Agriculture minister Bob Sichinga is slowly facing up to the inevitability of an increase in mealie meal prices by saying government will meet the millers to agree on the percentage.
Sichinga acknowledged receipt of a letter from millers who are proposing a 15 percent increase that he says is too high.
“We have received their letter but what they are proposing is too high because you must know that they receive subsidized maize. We know that an increase is inevitable but you see their excuse of fuel is not acceptable because there are a number of factors and to want to increase proportionally to the increase of fuel is not being sincere
because of the maize subsidy,” he said.
Meanwhile, transport minister Christopher Yaluma says the Bus Operators Association and his minister have finally settled for a 15 percent fare hike across the board.
The increase on local routes translates into a six ngwee rebased while inter-city operators have upped by K10.
Zambia has been hit by a flurry of price increase in various sectors that has led to a general increase in the cost of living and fuelling discontent among the citizenry.
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