The government has reportedly failed to settle its dues with millers who are providing subsidised maize meal to the public under the subsidised mealie meal scheme, the Daily News reports. According to GMAZ, that is the reason why there is a dire mealie meal shortage in the country right now.
Speaking to the publication, GMAZ PR manager Garikai Chaunza said millers have not been paid by the government;
There are currently substantial outstanding subsidy payments to millers that have to be paid by government. This has, consequently, severely affected their cash flow and the ability of millers to timeously pay for subsequent maize purchases. These late payments are haemorrhaging millers financially.
The maize allocations have not been done openly and transparently to GMAZ and this is making it difficult for the association to know which member has been allocated so that we facilitate offtake of GMB maize. This is a matter of public interest and the sale of this state-funded maize must be an open book.
We also appeal to the authorities that the allocations of maize be done according to the miller’s ability to purchase and their milling capacities to process the maize.
When contacted for comment, Industry and Commerce Minister Sekesai Nzenza said the subsidy will continue for another 2 months and the government will put measures in place to counter hoarding of subsidised mealie meal and smuggling of cheaper maize-meal.
More: Daily News