The government has set aside M10 million to subsidize prices of essential food items such as maize meal, sugar beans, peas, fresh and sour milk by 20 percent to curb the high purchase of these items from October to March next year.

Announcing the subsidy on Wednesday at the state owned Television on behalf of the Minister of Trade and Industry, Cooperatives and Marketing, Mr. Ralechate 'Mokose, said the maize, whose prices will be subsidized will be Letsema and Sliver Cloud.

Mr. 'Mokose said the money is part of the M220 million allocated by the government for Famine Relief Programme (FRP).

He however, urged the public to buy the government gazette, which will show clearly the new prices of the selected food items.

The Minister said, they have agreed with relevant Ministries such as the Cabinet, Finance and Development Planning, Agriculture and Food Security, Justice, Human Rights and Rehabilitation, and of Law and Constitutional Affairs, Local Government, Health and Social Welfare as well as Forestry and Land Reclamation to ensure that new prices are effected properly.

Mr. 'Mokose said the initiative has been prompted by the fact that prices of food items are hiking everyday as a result of poor harvest due to severe drought experienced, since last year.

He stated that the government policy is to secure the welfare of people by creating job opportunities in an attempt to fight hunger, poverty and starvation in the country.

Source: LENA 03/10/2007