THE government has increased the subsidy it was giving the grain millers to allow the price of mealie meal to remain at ZWL$70.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, a 10 kg of mealie meal will remain at ZWL$70 while the government will review upwards the subsidy to millers from ZWL$73.90 to ZWL$216.15.
“Cognisant of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government is committed to ensure that the prices of basic commodities, especially maize roller meal, should remain within the reach of the vulnerable,” read the statement.
The subsidy on maize meal was restored by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in November last year to ensure citizens have access to cheaper basic foodstuffs and cushion them against the obtaining economic challenges.
The government has also moved to subsidise the transport sector by capacitaing Zupco to provide an affordable transport system in both urban and rural areas after having realised that the private commuter operators had hiked fares beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.