The Sunday Mail
Aaron Charungwa Moyo
THE Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has taken delivery of more than 12 000 tonnes of maize, up from around 10 000 tonnes during the comparable period last year.
GMB chief executive officer Dr Edson Bhadarai said grain deliveries are expected to improve over the coming weeks.
“Between the period April 1 and June 7, the Grain Marketing Board had received the following quantities of grains: maize (12 627 tonnes), red sorghum (938 tonnes), white sorghum (1 623 tonnes), soyabeans (2 331 tonnes),” he said.
Meanwhile, Silo Food Industries (SFI), the parastatal’s subsidiary, is releasing about 500 tonnes of mealie meal to its shops and GMB depots countrywide in a bid to improve availability of the staple on the market at fair prices.
SFI managing director Mr Daniel Maregedze said the product was being distributed to nearly 20 GMB depots countrywide and all leading supermarket chains.
A 10kg bag of roller meal, he added, was being sold for US$4,50 or $16 956, which was “subject to review any time as other cost factors are currently very volatile”.
“The current intervention is limited to mealie meal, with the intention being to improve availability of that particular product at a fair price,” he said.
“Selling prices from the SFI and GMB shops are as follows: roller meal 10kg is $16 956; discounted US dollar price is US$4,50.
“The US dollar price is discounted for all customers paying cash or direct into our Nostro accounts.
“Zimbabwe dollar prices are subject to review any time as other cost factors are currently very volatile.”
The mealie meal is available at the following SFI and GMB depots: SFI Cleveland, Aspindale, head office shop, Harare Showground, Marondera, Gwanda, SFI Belmont, Masvingo, Chiredzi, Gutu, Chivi, Buhera, Rusape, SFI Mutare, Kwekwe, Gweru and Bindura.
Mr Maregedze added: “The product is also available in leading supermarket chains . . . SFI is supplying 500 tonnes of mealie meal in the market daily.”
