Fears over thriving black market as food crisis bites

The chaos being witnessed in the retail sector over the worsening shortage of maize flour and sugar have created fear of the emergence of a black market for these basic but crucial commodities.

Economists have blamed the crisis on the model the government used to introduce subsidies for milk, sugar and maize flour which has created panic buying among consumers and a slump in circulation since retailers don’t have the incentive to procure and sell.