Shoprite Zambia and Food Lovers Market, the South African chain stores, have protested the move taken by the Government banning the importation of some fruits and vegetables and are seeking a lifting of the ban.

Food Lovers Market has cited inconsistency in supply and compromised quality of produce by local farmers as some of the reasons it is agitated over the ban.

Food Lovers Market Levy Mall Junction manager, Obrian Mangimela, lamented the tendency by local farmers to supply once and thereafter go to ‘dance’.

“The challenge we have with local farmers is, today they supply us and tomorrow they gone to ‘dance’. As we speak, the shelf for eggs is empty because our local suppliers have not delivered. If as a supermarket we are inconsistent in stocking certain products, we risk losing customers,” he said.

Mr Mangimela has appealed to Government to pressurise local farmers to supply consistently good quality products.

source: lusakatimes.com