A serious shortage of mealie meal looms in Musina as scores of hungry Zimbabweans have descended on the border town where they are reportedly buying in bulk, leaving local shops with limited supplies.

The latest development has now irked residents of Musina, who are now threatening to stage a demonstration against local shop owners for continuously hiking prices, due to demand from the Zimbabwean market.

In interviews, the local community expressed concern over the shortage of mealie meal in local shops, due to bulk purchases by Zimbabweans. “The residents of Musina are really concerned over the shortage of mealie meal in our shops, largely because Zimbabweans are allowed to buy abnormally large quantities,” said Mrs Esnat Mudau of Nancefield. “I went to look for mealie meal at a local shop and was told that the commodity was not available. This really has a negative impact on us locals,” she added.

Mr Robert Nengwekhulu of Mutshongoville also expressed concern and called on the local authorities to intervene. “We are extremely worried about what is happening in Musina. One person is allowed to buy a truckload of mealie meal and the rest of us must survive without any. We are saying shop owners should stop this practice forthwith because, in the process, they are depriving and starving the local consumers,” he fumed.

Some of the Zimbabwean buyers are reportedly now placing orders from as far as Louis Trichardt, following the increasing demand for the commodity, as the shops in Musina are now failing to meet the demand.

A local shop owner, Mr Naidoo, said that they continue to get a number of Zimbabweans coming to buy mealie meal in huge quantities and, as a result, shops are constantly running out of stock. He acknowledged that some of their suppliers in Louis Trichardt are now assisting in the huge demand.

A snap survey conducted by Mirror indicates that a 12,5kg bag of mealie meal, which usually sells for R40, is now fetching as much as R60 in some shops around Musina. “These shop owners know that Zimbabweans are not worried about the price and therefore they are now charging exorbitant prices at the expense of us locals, who continue to struggle to raise the money. We are sick and tired of this madness,” said Mr Mashudu Nengovhela of the Matswale area.

Scores of Zimbabweans, some from as far as Harare and Mutare, cross into Musina through Beit Bridge daily to purchase mealie meal and other basic commodities. The majority of Zimbabweans staying along the border are now relying solely on Musina for survival as the economic situation in that country continues to worsen. The country is facing a serious food shortage after experiencing a mixed rain season that was characterised by incessant rains, followed by a harsh dry spell that subsequently destroyed the maize crop.