HUNDREDS of riot police have been deployed in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare as a maize shortage continues to grip this southern African country, once an exporter of the staple crop. Although no explanation has been given by the government, the deployment of the riot squad, which began this week, is seen as an attempt to preempt a mass protest over the shortage of maize and paraffin, which is used to light the homes of millions of Zimbabweans. Hit by last month’s 88,5% increase in the price of maize grain, which is processed into maize meal, millers had demanded that the government grant them a 62% hike in the retail price of the processed maize meal. But the government responded by awarding them a 20% rise and ruled that a further increase would have to wait until September.