Some retail shops in Bulawayo were on Monday selling a 10kg bag of subsidised roller meal at $78.00, prompting Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Raj Modi to intervene.
Camfro Generals shop and Curtain Corner shop located along Fort Street between 5th and 6th Avenues were inflating prices way above the stipulated $50.00 per 10kg bag.
In an interview with the Chronicle following his visit to the shops, Modi said:
When I visited the two shops, I found them selling the subsidised mealie-meal at a high price of $78.
I managed to convince the owners to sell the commodity at a proper price and that is $50.
What amazes me the most is that these shops do not have any tangible reason for selling the mealie-meal at a high price and I am aware that most supermarkets in the city have adopted a similar practice to make profits.
Modi said he warned he shops that if they continue overcharging the commodity next time it will be confiscated and legal action will be taken against them.
Zimbabwe is experiencing an acute shortage of mealie meal as grain imports are not enough to meet demand following a severe drought last year.