The Zambia National Service (ZNS) has constituted a task force to clamp down on the illegal sale of Eagles mealie meal brand being sold by unscrupulous businesspersons at exorbitant prices in markets and other public spaces.
The initiative comes as a direct response to reports from vigilant citizens leading Zambia Police and the Service to jointly uncover a serious black market racket that has been exploiting desperate customers for some time.
According to reports, some traders have been charging as much as K270 for a 25kg bag of roller meal and K360 for a 25kg bag of breakfast mealie meal, well above the official price caps of K180 and K230, respectively.
The high prices are direct violations of the ZNS’ subsidy program, designed to assist Government make the staple brand affordable for many Zambians.
In a survey conducted last Friday at Lusaka’s Soweto market and in select shops in Chilenje, a specially constituted ZNS task force led by Deputy Provost Marshal Lieutenant Colonel Precious Mfula unearthed alarming evidence of price gouging.
The operation revealed that some traders had been bulk-buying the subsidized mealie meal from certified vendors and reselling it at inflated prices to customers in an effort to illegally profit from the high demand of the brand.
Lt Col Mfula relayed ZNS Command’s resolve never to tolerate such practices, sternly warning any individuals found selling mealie meal at exorbitant prices to brace themselves to face the full weight of the law.
“We are sending a clear message to all those involved in the illegal sale of subsidized mealie meal that we will confiscate the commodity and hand over the perpetrators to the police for further action,” he said.
The Senior Military Police Officer disclosed that the task force would conduct random checks across regions to ensure that traders adhere to prescribed prices to afford Zambians easy access to correctly priced Eagles mealie meal.
“We will not hesitate to take action,” Lt Col Mfula warned. “This mealie meal is not for unscrupulous traders to take advantage of to exploit Zambians for profit maximisation. This commodity has been deliberately subsidized to ensure that Zambians, especially those from lower-income brackets, can afford it. We will continue monitoring the market closely.”
Lt Col Mfula also reminded ZNS agents that they are only permitted to sell a limited number of mealie meal to one customer of not more than two bags as a way of forestalling possible abuse by unscrupulous traders.
He said any agent caught flouting this guideline risks having their trading permits revoked.
Lt Col Mfula also called on citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities relating to the illegal sale of mealie meal.
