Civil Society for Poverty Reduction has urged government to ensure that the supply of essential commodity such as maize is predictable.

CSPR Board Member Partner Siyabutuba told Money FM News in an interview when availability of food in a country is not predictable it distorts the economic fundamentals because citizens get into panic buying.
Mr. Siyabutuba says the recent artificial shortage of Mealie meal on the market is a clear example of uncertainty on the availability of food.

“What is important is that we must ensure that food stocks are predictable because when availability of food in a country is not predictable it tends to distort the economic fundamentals,” Mr. Siyabutuba.
He notes that panic buying encourages suppliers to increase prices and that the impact of skyrocketed prices is mostly be felt by poor people at household level.

“When you see people getting into panic buying, it means that consumers are uncertain about the availability of food of a commodity and so what tends to happen is that suppliers will increase the prices and they take advantage of the panic buying.”

“So what we need to do now is to ensure that government is learning enough lessons and ensure that the supply of essential commodities such as maize is predictable,” he added.

Mr. Siyabutuba’s comment comes in following the return to normalcy of Mealie meal supply on the market after weeks of panic buying of the commodity by some consumers due to its artificial shortage.