Bread price

The price of bread, the only foodstuff whose price has been static for the past 10 months, is likely double when it is reviewed next.

With the price of wheat already set at a minimum of $1 200 a tonne and local production likely to be one-tenth of normal requirements, it is not certain whether the government can afford to wait for the traditional increase on October 1.

Right now, bread has become the cheapest food available and demand for it has increased as people fail to get mealie meal or try to save it for just one-full meal a day.

Zimbabwe is only expected to produce 34 500 to 44 300 tonnes of wheat because of the severe drought. The Cereal Producers Association says only 600 hectares of wheat are expected to be planted this year, down from 12 711 hectares last year.

So far the only relief is that the country will receive some 35 000 tonnes of wheat from Canada which has pledged $34 million for drought relief in Zimbabwe. Canadian High Commissioner to Zimbabwe Charles Basset says the amount is part of $170 million his country is pledging to the region.

Zambia will receive $17 million, Malawi $8.5 million, Mozambique $41 million and Angola $17 million. Basset said $42.5 million will be kept in reserve and will be disbursed when further assessment has been carried out as to which country is in dire need.

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