Business Reporter
The National Bakers Association of Zimbabwe has encouraged stakeholders to embrace the usage of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe bond coins in the bread value chain.
This position came after the Grain Millers of Zimbabwe, Bakers Association of Zimbabwe and the retailers met RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya.
The idea is just moral suasion to stakeholders where the three parties want to encourage extensive use of bond coins across the wheat bread value chain.
NBAZ president Mr Givemore Mesoemvura said the rounding up of retail of prices of bread to $1,00 is no longer fair and necessary in light of the introduction of bond coins.
“To clear the air around the price of bread as NBAZ we want to allow competition among the brands based on quality and packaging. These factors will determine the price of bread.
“Market forces should determine the consumer price of bread,” said Mr Mesoemvura.
He said the three parties also agreed that millers shall re-look at revising downwards the prices of wheat bread flour to bakers who in turn shall pass the price drop to the retailers for the benefit of consumers in the future.
Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe president Mr Tafadzwa Musarara said reduction of flour prices on the millers side to the bakers should reflect in the whole value chain.
Mr Musarara said the reason why bread was all selling at a $1,00 was due to issues of change so the introduction of bond coins will add convenience to the market.