A shortage of cement has hit Lusaka, forcing the prices of the commodity to
rise to about K40,000 per 50 kg pocket from the recommended price of
K32,000. And the Zambia Competition Commission (ZCC) has said it will have
a meeting with Chilanga Cement Plc management on Monday to look into the
shortage and to instruct the company to sell cement only to traders who will
agree to resell at the recommended price.
Chilanga Cement Plc managing director Ian Coulter said yesterday that the
shortage was due to "extensive" rehabilitation works being carried out at
the company’s Ndola plant since last month. A survey carried out yesterday
found that cement was out of stock in all-major outlets.
Some traders said they had been unable to procure the commodity during the
past two weeks due to poor supply. But Coulter said the company had not
increased the selling price of cement since April 1, 2004 and advised
customers to desist from paying higher prices. Coulter said the recommended
retail selling price for Lusaka was K32,000.
