Zimbabwe — The majority of Zimbabwe’s baking companies, about 80 percent, have temporarily ceased operations as the country faces serious flour shortages.

 

The country’s leading bakers Lobels, Bakers Inn and Superbake, which employs more than 50 percent of the industry’s total labour force, are among the casualties.

 

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As the country runs out of wheat after a failed winter wheat season last year, ZimDaily has learnt that 368 bakers, members of the National Bakers’ Association (NBA) have not received adequate flour supplies from millers.

An NBA official who spoke to ZimDaily said work stoppages are continuing daily.

“If the situation continues like this we are going to see a total extinction of bread from our shops,” said the official.

The official also said efforts to import flour had hit a snag after the government added rolls and twists on the controlled products list.

The controlled selling price of bread is $440 million a loaf but bakers get flour from millers at over US$35 (ZW$2, 1 trillion) per 50kg.

Meanwhile ,the country’s largest retailers have reduced their opening hours. Some shops have reduced the number of shelves to accommodate the few commodities in stock.

Zimbabwe’s economy is going through its darkest hour as Robert Mugabe continues to effect his repressive economic policies against a background of political strife.

Analysts have warned that the country’s inflation of over 10 million percent will not allow business to operate for long.