Subsidised roller meal has started finding its way onto
supermarket shelves, while millers have implored retailers holding onto old
stock to approach their suppliers to be credited for the difference.
A survey by The Herald showed that some retailers have
reduced prices of roller meal to around $50 for a 10kg bag as per Government
directive, while others were still to comply with the new price structure.
The intervention by the Government is part of a raft of
social safety nets to cushion ordinary people from profiteering, inflation and
drought.
Retail shops such as OK were selling roller meal at the
reduced price yesterday, but supplies were still subdued with only 5kg selling
for $25 remaining in most shops.
In a statement yesterday, the Grain Millers Association of
Zimbabwe (GMAZ) national chairperson Mr Tafadzwa Musarara implored retailers
with old stock to contact their suppliers for credit notes and start selling at
the new prices.
“The price reduction exercise on roller meal pursuant to
the newly introduced subsidy is now ongoing nationwide on fast-track-basis. We
are requesting wholesalers and retailers nationwide to contact their respective
millers who supplied them with roller meal products, obtain credit notes on the
current invoices, obtain new invoices of maximum prices of $45 per 10kg and
sell at the maximum retail prices of $50 per 10kg,” said Mr Musarara.
“The prices of other pack sizes (5kg and 20kg) should be
calculated pro-rata. These prices must be applied in all shops by 3pm today
Sunday, December 8, 2019.”
However, some shops were yet to reduce the prices of their
roller meal.
A miller who spoke to The Herald attributed the delay in
compliance to the cumbersome processes at the Grain Marketing Board (GMB).
“We first take delivery of grain from GMB, we then do
milling and packaging, so these processes take sometime. But by next week the
market would have flooded with the new subsidised roller meal,” said the
miller.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president Mr Denford
Mutashu said their members had started complying with the new prices.
“Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers engaged formal
retailers and most have complied with the noble instruction to reduce the price
of roller meal. As an association, we further direct GMAZ, through its
membership, not to deliver to any sector player that has not complied. We are
monitoring the situation together with GMAZ closely,” said Mr Mutashu.
National Business Council of Zimbabwe president Mr Langton
Mabhanga commended the Government for being responsive to the needs of the
people.
“We salute President Mnangagwa for demonstrating a
listening ear service-driven leadership. While roller meal price has been
halved, there is need to look at other products like cooking oil, sugar beans,
salt, sugar, washing and bathing soap and gas,” said Mr Mabhanga.
Another economist said the Government should expeditiously
extend subsidies to other products as part of efforts to further improve the
livelihood of ordinary people.
“That is quite noble. There are goods such as cooking oil,
rice, bread among others people ought to be cushioned as well,” said the
economist.
President Mnangagwa has indicated that subsidies for at
least seven basic commodities will be introduced soon to relieve the nation
from relentless price increases.
He said this on Saturday while addressing the Zimbabwe
Liberation War Collaborators’ Organisation (ZILIWACO) National Conference in
Harare.
The Head of State and Government said his administration
would continue to provide safety nets for vulnerable members of society. Herald
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