Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Jack Mwiimbu has said that it is unacceptable to have mealie meal prices at exorbitant prices that are beyond the reach of the general citizenry.

The Minister also said that government is in a hurry to stabilize the prices of mealie meal and essential commodities within reach of the low-income earners and the general public.

“The wholesale price for a 25kg bag of breakfast meal will sell at k210 and retail at k220. Any other dealers will sell the mealie meal at k195 and k230 for a 25kg bag roller meal and breakfast meal, respectively,” he said.

Mr. Mwiimbu added that this is a clear testimony and demonstration of government’s resolve to address and mitigate the exorbitant cost of mealie meal price on the market.

He was speaking when he flagged off the sale of cheaper Kalonga mealie meal by the Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS) in partnership with Dariyaye Milling Company yesterday in Lusaka.

And Zambia Correctional Service Commissioner General Fredrick Chilukutu expressed concern that social media platforms are awash with complaints of high cost of the commodity but with no solutions.

The ZCS Chief has since hailed the Zambia National Service (ZNS) for taking the lead in offering solutions to the high cost of mealie meal which the ZCS has also taken up as per Presidential directive on food security.

Meanwhile, Philip Muzala who is in Charge of Marketing at Dariyaye Milling Company revealed that the mills produce 700 metric tons of maize meal per day.

Mr. Muzala further said that the company has the production capacity of 20,300 and 3,200 by 25kg of breakfast and roller meal per day to be offloaded in on the market.