No deal on wheat levy, declare bakers

And the bakers, under their association, have vowed to continue their fight to have government scrap the 15 percent levy imposed on wheat flour imports.The latest salvos in the battle emerged from a March 26 meeting of millers, bakers, retailers, attended as well by the Botswana Exporters and Manufacturers Association (BEMA) and the Competition Authority.

While millers emerged from the meeting claiming victory in their fight to retain the levy and BEMA officials say an agreement of sorts has been reached, bakers have outrightly rejected reports that they have given up their six-year fight to scrap the levy.The meeting was part of a multi-sectoral initiative driven by the Ministry of Trade and Industry to obtain industry consensus on the wheat levy. Any agreement will then be forwarded to the National Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations for possible adoption.