Many consumers are forced to either give in and buy on the black market or look for alternative replacements.

A survey conducted by The Herald coun­trywide showed that some consumers are now relying on repacked maize-meal known as “tsaona” sold on street corners.

Much of this maize-meal is repacked from the 10kg bags that flow past super­market tills at high speed on each delivery and are then diverted to the black market.

On the black market, maize-meal is being sold for cash only.

A repackaged 10kg bag of maize-meal is sold for $100, the 5kg bag sells for $34 and 2kg for $19. Even smaller scoops in a plastic bag are available for between $7 and $19 depending on the quantity.

Some of the vendors selling maize-meal on the black market are even demanding United States dollars.

One of the vendors in Mbare, Mrs Veron­ica Musindo, explained how the profes­sional queuers and vendors have taken control of the maize-meal market.

“My family sleeps on the queue at super­markets and when we buy the maize-meal, we then repackage it for resale because here in Mbare people buy what they afford. We supply what the buyer wants,” she said.

The shortages have turned others into “professional queuers” as they hop from one supermarket to the other anticipating deliveries for resale on the black market.

Most supermarkets limit customers to one bag each when a delivery is made but cannot stop a group of family members grabbing a bag each nor stop someone buy­ing a bag, dumping it outside and racing back to grab a second bag.

When The Herald visited Bindura yester­day, there was no maize-meal in supermar­kets, the “queuers” having stripped them for resale on the black market where vendors have large stocks.

A Bindura resident, Brian Zenda, said during the evening vendors are repackag­ing maize-meal in smaller packs enough for one meal.

“We have no option except to buy from them. This is a difficult situation and we have children who need to be fed,” he said.

In Manicaland, residents are now relying on the black market for maize-meal as most supermarkets quickly run out of stocks.

But those same 10kg bags are on sale at the black market, for US$5 or ZWL$120.

Those who spoke to The Herald said the problem does not end with the “queuers”, alleging that some licensed shopkeepers were pushing bags onto the black market, where they were selling in foreign currency.

A Mutare resident, Mrs Rejoice Chifana said retailers sometimes received stocks of roller meal, but it was difficult for the ordinary person to buy as it was sold out quickly, although she suspects that some is reserved for those “with connections”.

Ms Melody Musiki, a vendor in central Mutare, said she is forced to buy small repackaged packets of maize-meal so that her family can have sadza at least once or twice a week.

“This is very hard because there is noth­ing you can do about it; at the end of the day you have a family to feed.

“It is either you sacrifice and hustle for that US$5 to buy a 10kg bag at the black market or rely on tutsaona (small quan­tities of maize-meal) that cost ZW$10-15,” said Musiki.

As a result, Mutare residents have resorted to importing rice from Mozam­bique as an alternative.

Hundreds of Zimbabweans who pass through Forbes Border Post on a daily basis are bringing in 25kg bags of rice which they buy for the equivalent of US$15.

Some travellers use unofficial entry points to smuggle many bags of rice which they bring in for resale.

In Beitbridge, people are relying on maize-meal imports from South Africa where the product is relatively cheap and can be imported into Zimbabwe duty-free. On average, a 12,5kg bag of maize-meal is bought for R50 across the Limpopo and sold in Beitbridge for R65 to R70.

Local roller meal brands are being sold in major retails shops for between $110 and $120 for a 10kg packet.

The majority of small grocers are selling maize-meal imported from South Africa.

Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) head of corporate communications Mr Francis Chimanda said yesterday that they were clearing an average of 400 tonnes of maize-meal imports daily from South Africa through Beitbridge Border Post.

“On average, we are processing 400 tonnes of maize-meal imports daily and these are duty-free.

“There is no Import VAT (Value Added Tax) on mealie-meal. The only payment is the clearance fees per bill of entry pro­cessed,” he said.

In Kariba, consumers reckon subsidised maize-meal is being hoarded by unscrupu­lous traders who tip-off “queuers” to stand in line when a delivery arrives and then get the maize-meal into their tuckshops.

A 20kg bag which is retailing at $100 is resold for anything between $250 and $300 at tuckshops around Kariba.

Some people are importing mealie-meal from nearby Siavonga where a 25kg bag goes for about K120.

This compares favourably with the local currency price.

Authorities in Chirundu said some peo­ple were bringing in maize-meal through Chirundu Border Post, while maize was not being allowed.

“Some people bring in a bucket of maize, which shows that it is home consumption. Maize is currently prohibited from entering the country,” said the official who preferred anonymity.

Government recently reintroduced sub­sidised maize-meal to bring relief to peo­ple as the commodity is pegged at $50 for 10kg.

Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza could not be reached for com­ment but is on record saying that they set up a maize-meal taskforce headed by her deputy Mr Raji Modi.

She said the Government was working with key stakeholders like the Confedera­tion of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) and GMB on the issue.

Grain Millers Association of Zimba­bwe (GMAZ) media and public relations manager Mr Garikai Chaunza said they were working on an import programme to bring in around 80 000 tonnes of maize per month for milling which also includes maize for the roller meal subsidy programme.

“We are pleased to announce that the Government verification process for mill­ers given the subsidy payment upfront in December has so far been done success­fully, with the mealie-meal having been distributed nation-wide at the subsidised prices,” he said.

“GMAZ members remain committed to the roller meal subsidy programme to the extent that some millers have utilised pri­vately acquired maize towards the subsidy programme. We have mobilised resources and logistics to bring these tonnages of maize to adequately meet the high market demand.

“The Government has put in place key enablers for the importation programme and they are also working out the new sub­sidy level on this imported grain since the GMB no longer has local maize available for the millers.”