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THE Zimbabwe Association of Small and Medium Millers (SMMAZ)
has proposed the brand of flour flour packaging material with a standard
Government subsidy stamp to curb corrupt deals involving the basics
commodity.
has proposed the brand of flour flour packaging material with a standard
Government subsidy stamp to curb corrupt deals involving the basics
commodity.
The proposal arises from concerns that subsidized
The cartels and cartels are diverting food to the parallel market.
Individuals “connected” to arbitration opportunities, sub-supplying the formal
market.
The cartels and cartels are diverting food to the parallel market.
Individuals “connected” to arbitration opportunities, sub-supplying the formal
market.
In a document addressed to the Ministry of Industry and
Commerce dated April 20, 2020 and copied to the Ministries of Justice, Legal Affairs and
Parliamentary Affairs and Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, SMMAZ on behalf
of its members said the proposed measure could help restore sanity in the
flour distribution of flour.
Commerce dated April 20, 2020 and copied to the Ministries of Justice, Legal Affairs and
Parliamentary Affairs and Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, SMMAZ on behalf
of its members said the proposed measure could help restore sanity in the
flour distribution of flour.
“SMMAZ is pleased to announce that it will embark on a
campaign whose main objective, among others, is to ensure that the subsidy roller
the food reaches the intended consumer and is not diverted to the black market ”
SMMAZ President Davies Muhambi said.
“As a first step in the implementation of this campaign, SMMAZ has
adopted a standard government subsidy seal design, which it has implemented in
packing member millers as a pilot project. “
adopted a standard government subsidy seal design, which it has implemented in
packing member millers as a pilot project. “
He said the motivation behind the initiative was to ensure
that subsidized cornmeal reaches its intended beneficiaries through
retail stores and at the recommended price. Muhambi said at the time that it was
almost impossible for anyone to distinguish between subsidized and
unsubsidized food
that subsidized cornmeal reaches its intended beneficiaries through
retail stores and at the recommended price. Muhambi said at the time that it was
almost impossible for anyone to distinguish between subsidized and
unsubsidized food
“This has fueled the channeling of subsidized food
to the black market and dealers are now taking advantage at the expense of
the citizens.
to the black market and dealers are now taking advantage at the expense of
the citizens.
“Once it is easy to identify by means of the subsidy stamp,
citizens can demand to buy corn flour at the regulated price, “said Mr.
Muhambi
Law enforcement officers and government task force
mealie-meal could also easily identify subsidized corn food for sale
on the black market and take the necessary steps at that point, he said.
mealie-meal could also easily identify subsidized corn food for sale
on the black market and take the necessary steps at that point, he said.
In proposing the concept, Muhambi said that SMMAZ was
sensitive to market vulnerability and corporate social responsibility for
try by all means to alleviate the difficult situation of the common citizen who cannot
pay the exorbitant prices obtained on the black market.
sensitive to market vulnerability and corporate social responsibility for
try by all means to alleviate the difficult situation of the common citizen who cannot
pay the exorbitant prices obtained on the black market.
In Bulawayo, for example, a 10 kilogram bag of
subsidized Russian food sold for between $ 120 and $ 180 on the parallel market
against $ 70 in the formal market.
subsidized Russian food sold for between $ 120 and $ 180 on the parallel market
against $ 70 in the formal market.
In the letter to the Government, the small and medium millers
association appealed to the government to support its initiative by drafting and
enact legislation that makes it mandatory for millers participating in the
Subsidy program to incorporate the seal in all its packaging.
association appealed to the government to support its initiative by drafting and
enact legislation that makes it mandatory for millers participating in the
Subsidy program to incorporate the seal in all its packaging.
So far, two grinding companies within the small and medium business.
milling sector have implemented the pilot project.
milling sector have implemented the pilot project.
Millers in the sector have also appealed to the government
Support to ban the sale of subsidized food on the black market such as
as well as criminalizing the re-bagging of flat subsidy roller food,
unbranded or unsealed packaging and / or erasing the subsidy seal.
Support to ban the sale of subsidized food on the black market such as
as well as criminalizing the re-bagging of flat subsidy roller food,
unbranded or unsealed packaging and / or erasing the subsidy seal.
In its presentation, SMMAZ wants the proposed legislation
be supported by punitive fines or prison terms as a deterrent to
possible retailers or accomplices of the black market.
be supported by punitive fines or prison terms as a deterrent to
possible retailers or accomplices of the black market.
Millers have proposed the need for government support
through an awareness campaign aimed at the general public in
To publicize the existence of the seal and its characteristics.
through an awareness campaign aimed at the general public in
To publicize the existence of the seal and its characteristics.
“It should also encourage the public to play an active role
in the fight against the black market by refusing to pay prices other than
recommended price, report such activity to the police or call
numbers provided on the subsidy stamp, ”said Mr. Muhambi.
in the fight against the black market by refusing to pay prices other than
recommended price, report such activity to the police or call
numbers provided on the subsidy stamp, ”said Mr. Muhambi.
Awareness campaign is expected to focus
around creating a strong sense of ownership of Russian food subsidized by
to the general public, and that they should not allow anyone to take it away
nor abuse them for it.
around creating a strong sense of ownership of Russian food subsidized by
to the general public, and that they should not allow anyone to take it away
nor abuse them for it.
Zimbabwe requires around 1.8 million tons of corn per
year and due to the poor harvest of the last growing season, the Government is importing
cover the deficit
year and due to the poor harvest of the last growing season, the Government is importing
cover the deficit
Individuals and companies can now import grain
using free funds. Due to the shortage of subsidized food in the formal
market, consumers are fighting for the limited product every time they get
delivered at points of sale.
using free funds. Due to the shortage of subsidized food in the formal
market, consumers are fighting for the limited product every time they get
delivered at points of sale.
Last week, the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission
(NPRC) has said that access to subsidized food has become a source of
conflict that needs to be spread before it gets out of control during the
closing period. Many people spend long hours queuing to eat food
and sometimes they don’t understand it.
(NPRC) has said that access to subsidized food has become a source of
conflict that needs to be spread before it gets out of control during the
closing period. Many people spend long hours queuing to eat food
and sometimes they don’t understand it.
Queues have caused members of the public to fail
observe the regulations of social distancing and confinement, a critical component of
flattening the Covid-19 curve. Herald
observe the regulations of social distancing and confinement, a critical component of
flattening the Covid-19 curve. Herald
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