Government has directed the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to release over 250 thousand metric tonnes of maize to help curb the escalating mealie-meal prices across the country.

Speaking at a media briefing the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Chipoka Mulenga, says releasing the maize to millers will help stabilize the prices of the commodity.

He admitted that as a liberalized economy, government has limited power to dictate prices but provide oversight on the market.

As early as the first week of 2023, most parts of Zambia have been hit by hiked mealie-meal prices ranging from 160 kwacha to over 200 Kwacha.

By Shem Malinda