ZIMBABWE’s current mealie meal shortages have been blamed
on the Industry and Commerce ministry which failed to register over 60 millers
for maize subsidy, with millers withholding their stocks to avoid losses.
Government scrapped maize subsidies at the start of the
month, but reintroduced them after a public outcry over high prices.
Government, however, introduced a new condition that
millers should be registered with the Industry ministry to qualify for the
subsidy programme, in a statement released on December 13 by the Finance
ministry.
But some millers have complained that the registration
process was very slow and about 60 millers have not been registered for the
subsidy programme.
The millers are now withholding their stocks for fear that
they may not be registered at all.
“The 60 millers are holding on to their maize stocks and
cannot risk producing roller meal without being registered,” a miller who
requested anonymity said.
“The few who have been registered are struggling to supply
the market and this has caused serious shortages of the product on the market.
Only highly priced refined mealie-meal being sold at around $115 per 10kg is
found in the shops.”
The gazetted price of the roller meal is $50, which is seen
as affordable for the public.
NewsDay observed yesterday that many retail shops did not
have roller meal.
The registered millers include National Foods Limited (NFL)
and Blue Ribbon Foods, which were allocated
28 000 tonnes and 10 000 respectively, out of the 40 000
which government has availed to millers.
Millers who spoke to NewsDay said they were being sent from
one office to another without getting any assistance.
Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) spokesperson
Garikai Chaunza confirmed receiving reports of delayed registration process
from millers.
“We are receiving calls from our members asking if the
association could assist them and it is our hope that the authorities would
speed up the process, so that millers who are holding on to their maize grain
start milling and supply the market given that we are in the festive season,
where mealie-meal is one of the products on demand,” he said.
“We have the capacity to supply the nation throughout the
festive season and what we are waiting for is that government registers us.
“Millers are now required to register with the Industry
ministry and after that, approach the Finance ministry, which will give them
the subsidy money before they go to GMB for maize collection. The process is
cumbersome and millers are complaining that there is no transparency in the
process.”
GMAZ used to facilitate the process for its members.
Last week, GMAZ Southern region members raised concern over
what they described as a show of “unfair and anti-competitive behaviour,” shown
by NFL, which allegedly met government privately and secured over half of the
total subsidised monthly maize allocation of 40 000 metric tonnes outside the
association.
However, according to the December 13 statement by the
Finance ministry, not only GMAZ members qualified for the subsidy programme.
Industry minister Sekai Nzenza yesterday said the matter
would be addressed.
“I am surprised that the process is taking long as the team
is working hard to register millers. However, we need to resolve this matter
quickly and there should be no shortages at all. Please do send the questions
to my PA, Victoria Sigauke, and we will investigate,” she said. Newsday
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