The bakers’ association of Zambia has lamented that their sales and their customer turnout has reduced due to the high cost of living.
According to the October report of the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection – JCTR, the cost of living for a family of five in Lusaka has increased to K9, 294.76 In comparison to the recorded figure of K9, 146.06 in September 2023 which signifies an increase of K148.70.
The report by JCTR contradicts governments efforts of working towards arresting the high cost of living.
The report revealed an increase in food items such as roller mealie meal beans, kapenta, charcoal and a decrease in fruits such as mangoes, oranges and apples.
In an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times -ZBT, association chairman Aziz Kapdi revealed that bakeries are finding it very difficult to increase prices of their food items which is making it hard for them to make profit.
Kapdi added that the bakeries are complaining because the prices of raw materials like wheat, flour, yeast, the cost of electricity and fuel has gone up.
“The sales have reduced and the customers are complaining that the cost of bread is high, how will they manage to buy? We are finding it very difficult to increase the prices because if we increase what will the locals eat? If bakeries have to make any profit it means that bread has to be k18 to k20 at the moment they are not even breaking Even, “he said.
“The bakeries are complaining very bitterly because everything has gone up from the wheat, the flour, the yeast, the cost of electricity, fuel and everything has gone up. Import duties on raw materials is heavy, sugar is expensive, “said Kapdi.
Kapdi appealed to the government to look into wheat prices and remove Import duties on raw materials.
“Our appeal to government is that that Government should look into the wheat prices. If wheat prices go down, the flour will go down. If we get some concession on electricity, bakeries will benefit because then the prices will come down. If Government starts removing Import duties on raw materials so that means that the cost will come down, “said Kapdi.
