The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has set up a task force to ensure transparent and equitable distribution of subsidised mealie meal.
The task force is headed by Deputy Industry Minister Raj Modi and will ensure that the subsidised maize-meal is not diverted to the black market. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Industry Minister Sekai Nzenza said:
During the holidays, there were some challenges as some companies were closed, resulting in the maize-meal shortage, which is still being experienced in some parts of the country.
To address the areas experiencing critical shortages and to ensure that maize-meal is available to all consumers, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce is closely monitoring the subsidy programme in collaboration with the Confederation of Retailers Association and GMB and other key stakeholders.
Reports indicate that when supplied to supermarkets, the mealie meal lasts for just a few minutes because of panic-buying, with some of the customers diverting the product to the black market where it is sold for almost double the shelve price.
Not only is the subsidised roller meal in short supply, but even refined mealie meal has become scarce.