BULAWAYO - Tonnes of imported mealie meal and flour are being confiscated at border posts while supplies that find their way into shops are being impounded.
This has forced an artificial hike of locally produced mealie meal amid fears of shortages.
Most shops here no longer sell imported mealie meal or flour. Supermarket operators who requested anonymity said the department of pest and plant control had, since last month, been confiscating the imported grain products after demanding import permits.
We were given an order not to sell imported mealie meal and flour. People from pest and plant control came demanding permits and we heard that they impounded mealie from other shops. They also told us that we should support local products, said one manager.
The shopkeepers expressed concern over the latest development. saying it was cheaper to import foreign products than buy from local millers.
A ton of mealie meal from local producers costs $3 500, compared to $1 050 when we buy from outside, said the manager of another city supermarket.
Another said the unavailability of imported mealie meal was likely to trigger a shortage.
We have not been selling imported mealie for the past few weeks. As a result prices have gone up and we hope there will be enough supply from local producers so that we do not have a shortage. Most of the imported mealie meal was in 12.5 kg bags which were cheaper than the local 10 kg bags, he said.
Locally produced mealie meal now costs between $4.20 and $5.10 for a 10kg bag up from between $3.40 and $4.50 for roller meal while refined mealie-meal now costs between $6.20 and $8.
Post published in: News