A project by Bulawayo-based war veterans to produce
“affordable” bread using Dutch ovens has been described as a waste of time
since it has no capacity to meet the city’s demand for the commodity.
On Tuesday, the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans
Association (ZNLWVA) Bulawayo commissioned their “bread bakery”, which is
located at their Entumbane high-density suburb offices.
ZNLWVA Bulawayo spokesperson Christopher Sibanda said they
started producing bread on the day of the launch after receiving a donation of
wheat from Provincial Affairs minister Judith Ncube.
“We have already started baking bread and we have groups of
10 people who work, so they take turns in working…on the day of launch bread
was being sold for ZW$ 5,” Sibanda told Southern Eye on Sunday on Thursday.
“We have the capacity to produce cheap bread compared to
what other confectionary companies are charging,” Sibanda said.
He was, however, evasive on the number of loaves they
intend to produce per day from their bakery.
The price of bread, like other basic commodities and
services, has been skyrocketing as producers cite inflation and a harsh
operating environment.
A fortnight ago one of the confectionary giants, Bakers Inn
reduced the price of the commodity from $15 to between $14 and $14,50.
Bulawayo commentator Reginald Shoko doubted that the war
veterans’ project will be a solution to the ever rising cost of bread..
“Bulawayo needs over 10 000 loaves of bread a day, their
oven is operated manually so this won’t help the community because their production
will be too low,” he said.
“Even if their bread is cheaper, the demand will be high.
Can they meet a demand of more than 10 000 a day?” Shoko questioned.
Shoko said the oven did not have the capacity to meet the
demands of the Bulawayo community and likened it to a teaspoon in an ocean..
The project comes two months after more than 100 residents
including war veterans underwent training on how to make bread in Bulawayo
using Dutch ovens as part of Zanu PF’s empowerment projects.
Party supporters also underwent training in confectionery,
petroleum jelly making, shoe polish making, floor polish making, building of
Dutch ovens and the making of dust ovens.
The trainings were held at Zanu PF’s Bulawayo Davies Hall
offices.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said the party wants to
construct makeshift traditional bakery ovens in every ward in the country to
compete against “profiteering” bread companies. Standard
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