The continued shortage of mealie meal being experienced in the country particularly, the Copperbelt Province in Zambia, is causing anxiety among residents, who are now forced to queue outside retail as early as 05:00 hours.
Ndola, Kitwe, Mufulira, and Chililabombwe are among the districts in the province that have seen increased demand due to limited supply amid high prices.
A check by Diamond News in Kitwe’s Ipusukilo Township found scores of unhappy residents that bemoan the situation they describe as unacceptable for a nation that is known to be bread basket of Southern Africa.
As desperation riles communities, reports of smuggling of the staple crop into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have become rampant and are almost out of control.
Many say the illegality has exposed weak border controls that government must swiftly address.
By Lovemore Sondashi