Millers have given the Patriotic Front government up to next week to meet their demand to increase the mealie meal prices by 23 percent.
Government has gone mute on the highly politically charged subject of mealie meal after millers wrote to Agriculture Minister Bob Sichinga on the proposed increase following a recent increase in fuel prices.
Miller Association of Zambia president Allan Sakala said the millers would increase the prices without government consent of the ministry of agriculture continues to ignore them.
“We wrote a letter to government but they have shown that they are unconcerned. We are waiting upon them but as you know we have continued to incur costs as a result of increased fuel prices,” Sakala said.
“If there is no response we will have no choice but to increase prices as per market forces demand.”
The proposed increase in mealie meal prices will add up to the chain of price increases that has hit the country among them fuel and bus fares.
The touchy subject of mealie was recently in the spotlight after a clash of high ranking government officials differed over the export of maize to neighbouring countries.
Agriculture minister Bob Sichinga had announced the ban on the export of maize but his decision was dramatically reversed by then acting President Edgar Lungu.
The curtail of maize dealers is reported to be enjoying the protection of the state.
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