Meat Prices Soar as Beef and Veal Push Grocery Inflation Higher

Beef and veal prices in Zimbabwe have jumped nearly 15%, outpacing grocery inflation (image source)

HARARE — Zimbabwean households are feeling the strain as retail prices for beef and veal continue to climb sharply, outpacing broader grocery inflation and adding pressure to already stretched family budgets. Market traders and consumers say the latest monthly figures show beef and veal costs rising by nearly 15 percent, a jump reverberating through restaurants, butcheries, and informal markets across Harare and provincial centres.

Suppliers and abattoir operators point to a combination of factors driving the surge: higher feed and fuel costs, diminished herd sizes after years of drought, logistical bottlenecks along key transport corridors, and currency volatility that raises the local cost of imported inputs. Small-scale cattle producers report that feed prices alone have eroded margins, forcing many to sell animals earlier than planned and reducing the supply of mature stock for slaughter.

“Feed and diesel costs have left us with no option but to offload young animals,” said a cattle farmer in Mashonaland West. “That means less prime beef in the market and higher prices for consumers.”

Butcheries in Harare describe a pattern of shrinking carcass weights and inconsistent deliveries from abattoirs, prompting retailers to raise per-kilogram prices and tighten portion sizes. Restaurateurs are revising menus and substituting cheaper proteins, while street vendors report reduced sales as customers switch to chicken, offal, or plant-based options.

“Customers are buying less beef and asking for smaller portions,” said a city butcher. “We see demand shifting, not disappearing.”

Economists warn that the meat-price surge could have knock-on effects on headline inflation and food security. Food costs make up a major share of household expenditure, and sustained increases in meat prices risk worsening malnutrition among low-income families that rely on affordable protein sources. Analysts urge policymakers to stabilise livestock input costs through feed subsidies, fuel relief for transporters, and pasture rehabilitation support.

Trade and logistics experts highlight regional factors, noting that South African and Mozambican markets heavily influence local beef supplies. Any disruptions or delays on those trade routes can quickly transmit price shocks into Zimbabwe. Improved coordination at border posts and faster clearance for refrigerated consignments could help ease short-term supply constraints.

Civil-society groups have called for consumer protections, including transparent price reporting from abattoirs and retailers, and temporary safeguards against price gouging during supply shocks. Nutrition advocates meanwhile urge diversification of protein sources and promotion of locally affordable alternatives to maintain dietary balance.

For consumers, coping strategies remain predictable: reduce beef consumption, buy cheaper cuts, and consolidate purchases. Whether prices stabilise will depend on rainfall patterns for pasture recovery, transport costs, and government policy measures to support producers and streamline supply chains.