Millers still enjoying large market share despite coming of ZNS

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU

THE Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) are still enjoying a fair share of the market despite the coming of the mealie meal produced by the Zambia National Service (ZNS) because consumers are going for accessibility and not commodity prices.
According to the MAZ chairperson, Mr Andrew Chintala, the commercially produced mealie meal was available on the market countrywide.
Mr Chintala noted in an interview that consumers had begun to adjust and to appreciate that it was about availability of the commodity, adding that there were brands not accessible in certain places.
“I think it is a tough call but we are surviving. We enjoy quite a favourable big share in terms of the market share. So, much as that is a bit of a challenge, I think commercially produced mealie meal is actually covering a bigger market on the local landscape
“People have come to realise that because it is not the price now, it is accessibility of the product. For us, the biggest challenge we have had is the power supply, but under the circumstances, I think we are doing quite well,” he said.
Still on challenges, Mr Chintala highlighted that millers had not been able to produce or to maximise production according to their predictions, especially that this was a peak period for them.
“Now, obviously if you cannot optimise your production at even 70 and 80 percent, it is a bit of a challenge but this is a national crisis, so we have to adjust and accept but we are trying to maximise production whenever we are given power, hence you are able to see the product availability in almost all parts of the country which is being produced by the commercially produced millers,” he said.
Admitting that the market had been tough, Mr Chintala said the mealie meal on the market was mostly commercially produced.