In what has now been publicly termed “ZUPCO everything,” the government, through GMB, is setting up retail shops to sell basic foodstuffs. The retail shops are meant to compete with private operators that the government has accused of profiteering by raising prices of goods unjustifiably.

121 shops under Silo Foods (a commercial division of GMB) will be stocked with basic foodstuffs. The government has reportedly injected $70 million into GMB to enable the production. The shops themselves are called Country Feeds and about 25 are already operational throughout the country. GMB depots will also serve as shops. GMB will, however, also continue supplying private owned shops that have been retailing its products.

In January, government-enabled its transport company, Zupco, to introduce buses on various commuting routes around the country. The move was meant to counter private transport operators that were accused of profiteering at the expense of commuters.

The state media announced this development under the headline title: $70m for cheaper basic commodities.

The article quoted, the Silo Foods managing director Mr Daniel Maregedze saying the fresh capital injection would enable it to expand its operations “in a big way”.

“The Government has invested about $70 million in the company. This is fresh capital injection, which will enable us to scale up our operations immediately,” said Mr Maregedze.

“We have already been on the market, but now we are expanding our operations in a big way. On top of that, Treasury is finalising another package for capital equipment, estimated at US$55 million and $40 million over a three-year period. We started operating as a separate entity on 1 April. We are currently recruiting for key positions in order to capacitate the team to deliver on our mandate,” he said.