By Burnett Munthali
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Vitumbiko Mumba, has encouraged BreadTalk to reduce the price of bread from K3,800 to K3,300 so that more Malawians can afford it.
Mumba made this request during a visit to the company’s offices in Lilongwe.
He further stated that this aligns with the government’s efforts to curb price hikes following the foreign exchange crisis that occurred in February.
The Minister has given BreadTalk 48 hours to review and respond to the request.
Meanwhile, one of the wheat flour suppliers in Lilongwe, Capital Foods, has already taken action.
The company has reduced the price of flour from K230,000 to K120,000 per 50kg bag.
Back in February this year, the Ministry of Trade began providing foreign exchange to importers of essential goods such as maize flour, poultry feed, second-hand clothes, and baking flour.
This initiative allowed importers to buy goods at official exchange rates.
The move has helped to control market prices and ensure that essential goods remain within reach for many Malawians.
According to Mumba, reducing the price of bread is one of the critical steps in supporting people from different walks of life who are currently facing economic hardships.
The Minister emphasized that bread is a staple food used daily by many families, and reducing its price would greatly benefit the population.
He expressed hope that BreadTalk would show compassion and corporate responsibility by supporting the government’s call to make basic goods more affordable.
If BreadTalk complies with this request, it will set a good example for other companies to follow in working with the government to support ordinary citizens.
The Minister concluded by saying that the government’s main goal is not to dictate but to collaborate with companies in moving Malawi forward.
He added that the government will continue visiting various companies to assess the situation and encourage price reductions for essential goods.
At the moment, many people are eagerly awaiting BreadTalk’s response within the 48-hour timeframe given by Mumba.
Time is ticking, and the public wants to know whether the company will comply with the government’s request or not.
Malawians are yearning for stable prices that will help them manage their daily lives more affordably.
Minister Mumba assured that the government will not ignore any lack of compliance if the company fails to respond or follow through with the directive.
The government wants to strengthen the partnership between the Ministry of Trade and the private sector to ensure full cooperation.
Currently, all eyes are on the outcome of BreadTalk’s internal discussions, and many hope the company will make a decision that benefits all Malawians.
