Sat, 21 Jan 2017 14:19:51 +0000
By BUUMBA CHIMBULU
A PROPOSAL between Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) and Grain Traders Association of Zambia (GTAZ) which will reduce the prices of mealie meal on the market has been concluded, but pending Government’s approval.
MAZ chairperson Andrew Chintala explained that in the proposal, GTAZ agreed to offload 250, 000 metric tonnes of maize to millers who would then sell a 25 kilogramme (kg) of breakfast meal at K85 and K75 for roller meal.
“We have proposed to the Government that according to the agreement we have on the table with GTAZ, if we purchase maize at a certain price we will be able to offload it at K80, K85 or K90, this is just a proposal and we have not yet gotten feedback from the Government so there is no agreement that has been signed,” he said.
Mr Chintala, however, said the two associations would not execute the proposal not until Government approved it, especially that the concerns of high mealie meal prices were raised by President Edgar Lungu.
“As it is now, it is a proposal, it might be a tripartite agreement but as it stands now, we have concluded the negotiations we have been having with GTAZ.
“GTAZ is committed to offload 245, 000 metric tonnes of maize to the millers and according to the conditions they are expected to sale a 25 kg bag of mealie meal at K85 for breakfast and roller meal at K75 but we have not received approval from Government.
“As I speak to you, I do not have anything binding to that proposal, so I am from talking to GTAZ so we are doing another letter just to try and push for action from Government,” he said.
Mr Chintala emphasised that the proposal was private sector driven which, however, needed Government’s approval as it might require other incentives to be executed.
“We cannot do anything before we finalise with the Government especially that the concern was raised by President Edgar Lungu. There is nothing conclusive about the deal, what I can say is that we will execute it once Government approves,” he said
