Source: War vets bread initiative ridiculed – The Standard November 10, 2019
BY PRAISEMORE SITHOLE
A project by Bulawayo-based war veterans to produce “affordable” bread using Dutch ovens has been described as a waste of time since it has no capacity to meet the city’s demand for the commodity.
On Tuesday, the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) Bulawayo commissioned their “bread bakery”, which is located at their Entumbane high-density suburb offices.
ZNLWVA Bulawayo spokesperson Christopher Sibanda said they started producing bread on the day of the launch after receiving a donation of wheat from Provincial Affairs minister Judith Ncube.
“We have already started baking bread and we have groups of 10 people who work, so they take turns in working…on the day of launch bread was being sold for ZW$ 5,” Sibanda told Southern Eye on Sunday on Thursday.
“We have the capacity to produce cheap bread compared to what other confectionary companies are charging,” Sibanda said.
He was, however, evasive on the number of loaves they intend to produce per day from their bakery.
The price of bread, like other basic commodities and services, has been skyrocketing as producers cite inflation and a harsh operating environment.
A fortnight ago one of the confectionary giants, Bakers Inn reduced the price of the commodity from $15 to between $14 and $14,50.
Bulawayo commentator Reginald Shoko doubted that the war veterans’ project will be a solution to the ever rising cost of bread..
“Bulawayo needs over 10 000 loaves of bread a day, their oven is operated manually so this won’t help the community because their production will be too low,” he said.
“Even if their bread is cheaper, the demand will be high. Can they meet a demand of more than 10 000 a day?” Shoko questioned.
Shoko said the oven did not have the capacity to meet the demands of the Bulawayo community and likened it to a teaspoon in an ocean..
The project comes two months after more than 100 residents including war veterans underwent training on how to make bread in Bulawayo using Dutch ovens as part of Zanu PF’s empowerment projects.
Party supporters also underwent training in confectionery, petroleum jelly making, shoe polish making, floor polish making, building of Dutch ovens and the making of dust ovens.
The trainings were held at Zanu PF’s Bulawayo Davies Hall offices.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said the party wants to construct makeshift traditional bakery ovens in every ward in the country to compete against “profiteering” bread companies.
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COMMENTS
Even if they had capacity to feed the whole Zimbabwe it wouldn’t matter to me. The key question is: Do these idiots know how much it costs to produce a loaf of bread using their new found technology? We know the idiots didn’t do any costing. So-called cheap price was just dictated to them by their zanu pf masters who gave them everything to start so-called project. They were given “free” training, “free” location cite, “free” equipment, “free” wheat, “free” water, “free” energy, and “free” all. So, the goons can even as well give the bread away for “free” if they were not a greedy lot. This begs another big question: Do these easily excitable lunatics believe ED, Judith, etc., are going to keep the freebies flowing to sustain production of so-called cheap bread?
The UN says Zw has the smartest people in Africa – why do you think it will not work comrade ?
It’s true that you are selling bread at $5 because you bought the wheat at Zanu Pf price ( donation). Wait until that wheat is finished and you need to purchase wheat like any others bakers then surely I would be your customer everyday if you can still afford to sell at a lose. Still at $5 you are profiteering. Nxaaa.
ZNLWVA is the successor to Lobels in ZW comrades. Soon & maybe even by Xmas we will be feasting on this cheap bread. Remember cheap normally means nasty or dodgy tasting