Millers stop production

Zimbabweans are facing potentially serious shortages of the staple maize meal following the decision by millers last week to stop production in protest over government price controls. “The reports that there is no mealie meal in the shops are true,” sources in the National Foods Company, one of the country’s major millers, told IRIN on Monday. “It is difficult to say when we will start production again. We are awaiting the government’s decision to grant us an increase in our selling prices.” Zimbabwe’s millers were hit last month by an 88 percent increase in the price of maize grains. Last week they demanded that the government grant them a 62 percent hike in the retail price of the processed maize meal. The government’s response was an immediate 20 percent rise, promising a further 20 percent in September. President Robert Mugabe has reacted to the maize meal crisis by accusing the millers of profiteering. “We cannot continue to leave such a critical service to the whims and caprices of big millers who are out to reap super profits from both the staple and other products,” he told an assembly of his ruling ZANU-PF party at the weekend. But the door remains open to negotiations, with the millers scheduled to meet relevant government ministers on Tuesday to discuss the stalemate, media reports said.