Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ), which has been under spotlight with members of the association labelled as corrupt, has pointed blame on the government pertaining roller meal shortage in retails.
GMAZ media and public relations manager, Garikai Chaunza, in a statement on mealie meal supplies says his organisation is still waiting for a review of the price of roller meal subsidy from the government to pump the staple product into the market.
“Millers are currently owed an excess of ZWD120 million by the government in roller subsidy refunds dating back from last December, and this is affecting the constant supply of roller meal,” Musarara says.
“Under normal circumstances, the subsidy payments should come within seven days.”
The public relations manager says GMAZ hopes to improve the supply of roller meal within the next 30 days.
“The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) is happy to announce that we have so far managed to import 10 000 metric tonnes of maize from South Africa, whose efforts have been made possible by the government which has given us the opportunity to import,” he says.
“Our National Chairman, Mr. Tafadzwa Musarara, is on a regional and international crusade where he is engaging with grain producers and suppliers, as we intensify grain procurement with the aim of complementing government efforts of ensuring food security.”
“GMAZ remains committed to fulfilling our mandate and moral duty of ensuring national food security,” Chaunza said.
Mealie meal shortage in Zimbabwe’s retail has been followed by corruption allegations levelled against GMAZ Chairman Musarara by the ruling party youths.
The youths claimed that Musarara was supplying mealie meal on the black market at higher prices thereby causing the shortage.
The Chairman in response said he has not participated in the government subsidy programme, which assured that roller meal appears on retails at cheaper prices.
“It is common cause that the country is presently experiencing a shortage of maize induced by drought,” he said.
