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Zambia gives Zimbabwe 9 000 metric tonnes of maize (Updated )

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rupiah_banda_answering_questionsZambia has given 9,000 metric tons of maize to Zimbabwe as part of its pledged support to ease the difficulties the country has been going through.

President Rupiah disclosed this today during a joint press briefing with his Zimbabwean counterpart Robert Mugabe held at Rainbow Towers at the end of President Banda’s four-day state visit to Zimbabwe.

The intervention is part of Zambia’s contribution to Zimbabwe’s economic recovery programme as agreed at the recent SADC summit in Swaziland.

President Banda said the agriculture minister Brian Chituwo is making arrangements to have the maize shipped to Zimbabwe as soon as possible.

Zambia is also to avail a further 1,000 metric tons which Zimbabwe bought some time ago, but instead of Zambia shipping the maize to Zimbabwe it mistakenly delivered the grain to Swaziland.

“We have also discovered in our books that we owe you about 1,000 metric tons of maize. The maize was bought for Zimbabwe a long time ago, but instead of shipping it to you, we shipped it to Swaziland,” Mr. Banda said.

The President said despite Zambia’s financial position being impacted negatively by the slump in copper prices, it will fulfill the pledged assistance made during the SADC summit three weeks ago in Mbabane, Swaziland.

“As you are aware we were doing well when copper prices were very high, unfortunately the prices of copper dropped down from about US$9,000 to less than US$ 3,000. We are being impacted negatively by the low metal prices the mainstay of our economy,” he said.

The President said all the same Zambia will not agree to be left behind in assisting Zimbabwe because there is need to show that the two countries support each other.

The President said Commerce minister Felix Mutati is also working out a credit facility with Zambian banks which would assist Zimbabwean companies credit facility that will enable a Zambian company to supply veterinary medicines to Zimbabwe.

President Banda said this idea follows the instruction by President Mugabe to his agriculture minister to see how a Zambian company that was exhibiting at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair could supply veterinary medicines to Zimbabwe.

“We were walking around the trade fair stands and President Mugabe asked his minister if he was aware that Zambia was producing the veterinary medicine. Mr Mugabe told his minister to see how this Zambian company would supply veterinary medicine to Zimbabwe,” President Banda said.

He said since it would be very expensive to finance this project, it was his view that the ministers of commerce arrange for a credit facility from the central banks of the two countries.

On development, President Banda said he looks forward to see Zambia and Zimbabwe combining efforts in enhancing business between the people of the two countries.

He said Zambia would encourage its people to go to Zimbabwe to invest in various businesses adding that the minister of commerce and industry remains keen to open the way so that this dream is realised.

He said Zambia has also received pledges from the international community for infrastructure development that will connect the countries Zambia, Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

President Banda expressed hope that the economy of Zimbabwe would soon get back to its glory days because the country still has its infrastructure intact while the people are well educated.

“In my opinion, this economy cannot take long to fix. This country has intact infrastructure and its people are educated,” he said.

The President said he is keen to see Zimbabwe people, who are good cattle farmers, to come to Zambia and utilise the water and grazing land for cattle ranching.

“We went to Gwanda yesterday and I was talking to a ranch farmer whom I told that he should come and look at investing in cattle ranching in Zambia because it has land water and grass good for cattle pasture,” he said.

The Zambian head of state also invited Zimbabwean companies to participate in the forth coming Zambia International Trade Fair in Ndola.

At the same occasion President Robert Mugabe commended his Zambian counterpart for accepting the invitation to come and officiate at Zimbabwe International Trade fair that closed today.

President Mugabe said the visit had opened a new chapter of relations between the two countries.

The Zimbabwean leader said Zambia and Zimbabwe need to pull their resources together to withstand the prevailing global economical crisis.

He said the two countries should adopt a more collaborative rather than a competitive approach in fostering economic development.

Also in attendance at the Press Conference were the two first ladies Thandiwe Banda and Grace Mugabe, commerce minister Felix Mutati, his agriculture counterpart Dr Brian Chituwo and other high ranking Zambian and Zimbabwean government officials.

President Banda arrived in Zimbabwe on Wednesday during which prime among other engagements, he officially opened the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo.

Mr Banda also visited Gwanda district south of Bulawayo where he was born 72 years ago.

He has since returned home.
ENDS/IMD/AM/ZANIS

102 COMMENTS

  1. Not bad to give to uncles, nephews, aunts and the rest but has he got enough to give to his “children”?

  2. Good move.Thank you your excellency.So now the next move might be to make a pamela more affordable to the Zambians.Man i could close my eyes to manage kapenta,isabi,imbalala,tomato onions,natusoti.Insala pa zedi

  3. Lets hope its not just mere public image building. I look forward to a hunger free Zed. A Zed that shall not resort to maize importation because some fool somewhere failed to plan.

  4. I just don’t understand who RB is trying to impress! The stupidity is hitting a lunatic level here.

  5. hope the bumper harvest being talked about is real,otherwise it’s a good move since we don’t have dollars for zim.blessed is the hand that gives…..

  6. What can we say? The Zimbo is feeding his people while Zambians are starving and fighting high food prices.
    Comments reserved.
    Impeach him for being a foreigner!

  7. A 25kg bag of mealie meal is going at K70,000 in Zambia,( which is too much for an average Zambian.) due to the shortage of maize in the country. The question is, where has RB found this 9 000 metric tonnes donated to Zimbabwe? Kulibonesha taa……………………

  8. I do not remember a time when Zambia was helped by anyone of its neighbours. Why for God’s sake are we always in the forefront of championing other peoplles causes. Zambia has had food shortages before while Zimbabweans had plenty. All they did was laugh at us that we were eating yellow Maize meant for pigs. Please Rupiah Banda if you feel so strongly about your so called birthplace just pack your bags and go back to Gwanda or whatever nonsense it is called. We are no going to sit around while you transfer resources to Zimbabwe. Enough was transfrred during the federation.

  9. Maybe he is giving them the GMO he recently imported into the country. Otherwise, where is the 9000 metric tonnes come from since the floor price has not yet been announced and FRA is yet to start purchasing maize from this year’s marketing season?

  10. please leave the strategic reserves for zambians, also make a good economic deal with zimbabwe for years to come for our 9,000 metric tonnes of maize !

  11. This is a good move as it strengthens diplomatic ties between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

    It is also good in the sense that if mealie meal is affordable in Zimbabwe, there wont be smuggling from Southern of the border but it will be there northern of the border.

    Otherwise, very good move. Thanks Mr. President.

    Nine Chale

    Importing maize will lower the maize price thereby affecting the livelihoods of the village dwellers. There will also be less investment in maize farming as it will be deemed not profitable. This will also affect people who are looking into agriculture as a viable investment industry. This will also result in an increase in the rural urban drift. Villagers need a living too and some rely heavily on maize farming.

  12. This is the danger of having a president who does not think clearly and an old chap. Always taking Zambians for granted. It was announced by the Chief Liar Shikapwasha ,that cabinet would decision what to give the relatives of Nyama soya and without being informed as Zambians donation promises are made in the homeland of Nyama soya , yet millers in Zambia have no maize…wonders never cease

  13. I like the logic of some bloggers on here. So the little we have given Zimbabwe with little help from the other few neighbouring countries will help stop smuggling? Naya bane mu kucita barbeque kaili lelo nakafuma. Stella has been replaced by Heineken Jamaco. Tilapya mbona! Iwe!

  14. So if a 50kg bag of maize is priced at K50,000, Zambia has given Zimbabwe K9bn. This is about $1.6m. Well what can we say Zambians…………………………………………. may the aid assist the needy in Zimbabwe

  15. Hmmmm! I dont think this has been done in good faith.There a lot of ways we could have helped Zim other than donating maize at the expense of Starving Zambians. Am not against helping our neighbours but i feel we could have given them something else……

  16. Giving maize to a fellow who grabbed productive land and gave it to party cadres!!!! The whole thing was self inflicted. Come on Toad Face, what about the starving, jobless miners what are you doing about them?? Zambia had done enough to liberate them… Now we have to feed them too….I am totally pissed off….

  17. Lets be aware that there is power in giving. God’ll surely open up a door for replenishment. You only receive what you sow Genesis 8:22, Galatians 6:7, Poverbs 11:25-26, Proverbs 19:17. This principle is very basic but always overlooked. The beauty of it is that it knows no religion. On this blog and as a nation we are obsessed with insults, that is what we sow, then we equally reap insulting policies. If we were busy providing solutions on how to build our country, at least from the reservoir of such of such solutions there is bound to be one that would appeal to the leadership. Leaders would have been motivated to often take time to read those solutions on this blog. But as it is, I am sure nobody even cares to waste time lest they find 4Moles of concentrated insults about them

  18. It sometimes amazes me how some of you people on this blog can be so short-sighted. Think this way, if Zambia (and other SADC countries) does not help our brothers and sisters across the Zambezi; one thing is for sure, they will eventually end up in Zambia as economic refugees. Bringing with them every conceivable negative impact that accompanies economic-refugees: prostitution, crime, depressed wages, and inflationary pressures on the Zambian economy, etc. I am sure none of you would appreciate very much that kind of a situation. Whatever your political persuasion is, helping these people stay in their own country should be applauded. To this I say good move RB—well meaning Zambians are with you on this one, sir.

  19. #12 This Free-Market-Economist chap is misguided, particularly with his text book theory of keeping maize price high so that villagers make money. Where did you get that my friend. Isn’t this just some protectionist policy you are peddling. If maize is being grown elsewhere cheaply let Zambia import it and lower the price. They call it market forces. You can’t stop people from importing maize and at the same time keep the price high so as to protect rural community. What economics is that? If imported maize is cheap then the rural community are doing something inefficient. and unsustainable. At the end of the day we need to export our maize to earn forex and that means competing on the world stage. If you are MMD tell your leaders to just improve the inefficiencies in the system.

  20. Nyama soya need to understand that we are not in UNIP days where decisions were made unilaterally . This a multiparty system and consultation with all the stake holders is very important . After all the donation is from the treasury of Zambia not nyama soya `s farm

  21. It is not refusal to help , it is just the disjointed way of doing things . ..we picked a wrong guy though a lesser evil.

  22. Nyama soya lacks the ability to read the political mood of the nation .He conspicuously misses at the labour day ,which will go in the records of the history of , Zambia as the missing President . There is family re-union, Promises of donations are made… A good politician would have waited . He was not obliged to make the pronouncement ,appeasing who? relatives perhaps…

  23. The first question is: Do you have enough of the commodity back home? Mugabe should have known how to manage his maize farms before chasing out the poor white farmers. RB, check your reserves and counter-check this year’s harvest before displaying your acts of good samaritanism.

  24. I guess Bob Mugabe could not have been more happy as Zimbabwean president than now when his “brother” is ruling the neighboring country. There is nothing wrong with helping but, i am suspicious about the timing…..

  25. I am not an economist and I do not wish to be one , however certain books that our brothers and sisters claiming to be Zambians read , need to be destroyed/burnt for lack of having a human face.

  26. #21 Yambayamba
    I think you are being forgetful. late 1980s and the whole of the 90, WHAT DID ZAMBIA GO THROUGH? zimbabwe was doing well the, we were made to swallow the SAP bitter pill which we haven’t recovered from as at now. who came to our HELP? the whole SADC was quite and nobody said anything we faced our problem by ourselves. the Zimbos used to laugh at us. why do we for get easily as zambians? kaunda through helping the SADC region used 12 billion dollars and that saw our little economy couped with depressed copper price falter. what was our reward? NOTHING. right now people a sleeping on empty stomachs and your yama is busy giving the little that we have

    please, let put our country first instead of anione anione

  27. Chinondo

    The cheaper maize that is grown elsewhere (SA in particular) tends to be GMO maize. You would be competing with cheaper GMO maize and this would somehow phase out naturally grown maize as local farmers will seek GMO seeds to grow much cheaper maize.

    At the end of the day we need to export our maize to earn forex and that means competing on the world stage.

    That is true. And while the country will be indulging itself in cheap GMO maize, local farmers will seek alternative markets for their natural maize because the maize price is higher elsewhere than in Zambia. If you don’t mind GMO maize, then your comment is justified.

  28. If you are MMD tell your leaders to just improve the inefficiencies in the system.

    Name/list the inefficiencies.

    You can’t stop people from importing maize and at the same time keep the price high so as to protect rural community. What economics is that? If imported maize is cheap then the rural community are doing something inefficient. and unsustainable

    Yes, they cannot get capital because bankers will not lend to unprofitable business ventures. Unless maize farmers start making profits, they wont be able to secure loans.

  29. Just to make things clear. I do not support the concept of keeping the maize price high nor do I support the concept of price controls on maize at all.

    I suggest we let the maize price float freely in a free market instead of floor prices and FRA intervention.

  30. #20 3RqU it would be important for you quote the scripture where you are basing your argument so that we learn “stop misplacing scriptures”.Nevertheless, what I am sure about is that you cannot say you can only give when you have abundance but even when it hurts you most. May be we may not resonate on this score but whether you follow the Bible or not, the principle does not segregate.

  31. Who took the maize to Swaziland? Why didn’t they channel the maize back to Zim? How did they reconcile their books on stock position? Who recieved the maize he didn’t buy in Swaziland and kept quite until the poorly organised Zambians realised?
    Why does RB want to implicate himself instead of just keeping quite???????

  32. This doesnt make sense or add up to any thing.. whats going on??? Zambian masses are starving as poverty levels are escalating…. some one is misdirecting priorities in here….

  33. #35 Free-market -Economist, I wish to state from the onset , that it is not my desire to mention your name , for it has a connotation of exploitation, you remind of a medical student of an Asian origin who hopes and prays a patient wont recover, so that the signs and the symptoms will be there during exams for him to pass . Not having a human face . This is essentially the situation of maize

  34. Nothing patient will come , leave the poor guy to live ,like wise another season of maize harvest will come do not exploit the farmers as brief case buyers …

  35. wiseman-reborn

    Nothing patient will come , leave the poor guy to live ,like wise another season of maize harvest will come do not exploit the farmers as brief case buyers …

    If farmers feel they are being exploited, they could form self regulating cooperatives. This will enable them to have some bargaining power of which they could tell the briefcase businessmen “if you don’t want to buy at this price, we shall go elsewhere e,g across the border”. We have seen this happen in the transport industry where bus operators cooperatively decide to hike the bus fares.

    Briefcase businessmen flourish because there is a lack of cooperatives in the maize deals, maize farmers don’t really want to wait for govt to announce the floor price,[tbc

  36. Make money quickly is what you are advocating for #34and #35 disregarding FRA and Govt Floor prices , though not perfect but nearer to sanity

  37. cont…

    announce the floor price and rural farmers “assume” they will receive humanitarian aid if they run out of maize or money to buy food due to low profits from exploited maize sells.

    Cooperatives will form. They have happened in other industries. Farming should be no exception.

  38. Make money quickly is what you are advocating for #34and #35 disregarding FRA and Govt Floor prices , though not perfect but nearer to sanity

    I am advocating for long term self sufficient efficiency in the industry. I am advocating for a profitable industry that will enable farmers to buy their own fertilizer instead of relying on govt handouts (FSP), invest in capital (tractors, artificial irrigation, skilled human capital, etc) and gain access to loans at low interest rates from bankers which will then lead to further investment.

    I am advocating for an industry that has the potential to dwarf mining in terms of long term employment and job security. A self sustaining efficient industry that does not need govt intervention is what I am advocating for.

  39. # 43 There are weak links in our systems ,an inventory question need to be, how do protect the poor?Is exploitation an option… Can father bwalya speak, for he claims to speak for the poor ..

  40. What is your take on the under funded colleges that produce human resource . .. as you mention as long term

  41. Its like paying School fees for your neighbour’s children who go to a private school when your own that go to Mkandawire Primary School have been sent back home by the school Bursar !

  42. # 47 I do agree with your posting about advocacy but very skeptical . You seem to be bent on exploitation and maximizing profits based on people`s ignorance than an implementer ..

  43. # 43 There are weak links in our systems ,an inventory question need to be, how do protect the poor?Is exploitation an option… Can father bwalya speak, for he claims to speak for the poor ..

    I have stated in #43 how the poor can avoid being exploited. By speaking with one voice. How do they do that? By forming cooperatives. Cooperatives will also provide the poor with alternative markets should the briefcase businessmen refuse to comply.

    What is your take on NCZ , a viable project , yet left to ruins .

    My take on NCZ is that it needs to be in private hands. NCZ is failing because of a heavily regulated agriculture system that has not provided credible results. If NCZ was in private hands, it would seek alternative markets.

  44. If NCZ was in private hands, what I would see is the company seeking alternative markets if the local market is not yielding any profits. Malawi and Tanzania have economies heavily dependent on agriculture. NCZ can seek these markets. Some Zimbabwean companies have chosen Zambia as an alternative market due to Zimbabwe’s battered economy, NCZ would probably do the same.

    What is your take on the under funded colleges that produce human resource . .. as you mention as long term

    You need to first deal with the unemployment industry if you are to deal with colleges. If people have jobs, they’ll be able to send their kids to college which will make the colleges less reliant on govt.

  45. Agriculture has the potential to be the industry that will be a huge employer. It has the potential to put low skilled labor to work and also has the potential to create sub industries (inputs, value adding).

    NCZ is an example of a sub industry of agriculture. National Milling is an example of a sub industry. We first have to fix the agriculture industry if we are to deal with the sub industries.

    We have used the FRA, Govt floor price method and it has not developed the industry, it has not provided food security, it has not provided a livelihood for the rural community.

    Let us try other methods. The free market model is the method I propose.

  46. Free Economist , What we need in Zambia, are Genuine Investors , I have no bone of contention with it , provided all things are done properly …lately the scenario of pack we are going and repacking we are staying on the Mines ,paints a bad picture

  47. You seem to be bent on exploitation and maximizing profits based on people`s ignorance than an implementer ..

    If people can form cooperatives, ignorance wont be a factor. Profit maximizing for the rural community…yes.

  48. Unbelievable. Remember that charity begins at home. Can the goverment put aside a further 9000 metric tonnes of maize and start giving mealie-meal coupons to the starving Zambians. This is like a parent giving food to her neighbors while her own children starve.

  49. Free market was introduced by Kafupi it failed , the concept of Namboard and cooperatives by the old man kk did work .Kafupi abolished them purely on the hatred of the kk

  50. What we need in Zambia, are Genuine Investors , I have no bone of contention with it , provided all things are done properly …lately the scenario of pack we are going and repacking we are staying on the Mines ,paints a bad picture

    What we must realize is that the copper industry/mining is a perfectly competitive industry. Part of being in a perfectly competitive industry is easy entry and exit (textbook). In short, you cannot force someone to continue running a business if they are making losses (unless in a socialist system).

    Agriculture is not that perfectly competitive. Reason I say this is for example if the maize price had to fall, you have the alternative of growing something else that has a higher price (e.g wheat).

  51. Free Economist , resorting to Cooperatives and the resemblance of Namboard will avoid the brief case quick money makers, with the resultant effect of boosting our economy

  52. Free market was introduced by Kafupi it failed ,

    We have to look at the external factors of why it failed.

    -Double digit inflation rates.
    -High interest rates
    -Currency instability
    -DEBT
    -Low infrastructure development

    Ever since the free market model was introduced, we have seen investments in telecommunications (ZAMTEL must be privatized), real estate, T.V broadcasting (DSTV, MyTV, MUVI TV, MOBI TV), hospitality, luxury bus transport systems, etc.

    We have also seen a stock exchange, debt financing (bonds, treasury bills), respect to property rights.

  53. Agric is broad , limitation is detrimental . Animal husbandry e.g what have we one on disease control and protection . more so in vaccines production…

  54. Free Economist , resorting to Cooperatives and the resemblance of Namboard will avoid the brief case quick money makers, with the resultant effect of boosting our economy

    I am talking of self formed, self regulating cooperatives which have no connection to govt. These cooperatives can decide their own prices and have bargaining power. If rural farmers speak with one voice, exploitation by briefcase businessmen will reduce to a minimum.

    Even now with the FRA, Govt floor price model, we have seen briefcase businessmen flourish. It is time to try something new.

  55. on agric still , fishery what have we done on the sponsorship of marine industry pertaining to fishery and cannery of final products . No packaking of long stay of our fish . ONLY the fish ban… comment on this Free Economist.

  56. Agric is broad , limitation is detrimental

    That is true but we need a strong economic driver. We can also have sub economic drivers e.g Fish farming, poultry and cattle rearing, Tourism, Light Manufacturing.

    Agriculture accounted for about 60% of Zimbabwe’s foreign exchange earnings. Agriculture has got great potential.

  57. The pineapples what we have done in monitoring the fine product …. collaboration with the mines in north Western province , couldn`t the mines have sponsored such ventures ?

  58. Animal husbandry e.g what have we one on disease control and protection . more so in vaccines production…

    I am not sure because I have not researched on this but from what I know, ZAMBEEF is one of the biggest companies in Southern Africa. Maybe the reason we do not have an industry in the “vaccines production” is because there aren’t enough players in the industry. Do we need govt to set up this industry? NO because govt will just have to subsidize it the same way they subsidize NCZ and these subsidies will show up on your taxes.

    ZAMBEEF has made it without price floors BTW.

  59. on agric still , fishery what have we done on the sponsorship of marine industry pertaining to fishery and cannery of final products . No packaking of long stay of our fish . ONLY the fish ban

    I know there is one company in Zambia that sells canned fish. I cannot remember the name of the company unfortunately If people who’s livelihood depends on fishing see the diminishing occurrence of fish and the diminishing occurrence their future income flow, they will start to care. This may lead to either responsible fishing or the development of fish farms which will enable them to catch fish all year round.

  60. Conclusion we need the young not the old …. free economist been a pleasure only give solutions at liberty to criticize but remember solutions

  61. The aspect of vaccines is very important , animals like humans need vaccines to survive … this is the point we missed in kk times….

  62. The pineapples what we have done in monitoring the fine product …. collaboration with the mines in north Western province , couldn`t the mines have sponsored such ventures

    There is no need for mines to support such a venture if the venture is already profitable on its own. That is the whole concept of “self sufficiency”. Thirsty industries manufacturers concentrated pineapple juice, surely they need pineapples to do this. Who knows, if Pineapple juice is appealing to the masses, Mazoe might also enter into this product (pineapple juice). There is no need for mines to support such ventures because it would bring about a concept of “dependability”. We don’t need that. We need self sufficiency.

  63. The crocodile industry skin and the medicinal effect.. govt support

    Govt support not needed.

  64. # 72 Its not a banana republic , the govt has a responsible to its citizens . Sometimes you make me get an impression of as though you are drug lord ,with no sense of passion for the people .. respond

  65. # 72 Its not a banana republic , the govt has a responsible to its citizens

    Yes the govt has to be responsible but in what sense. Clearly not intervening in industries that have the ability to be self sufficient.

    How does govt become responsible to its citizens?

    By providing a good environment for self sufficiency to flourish. A good environment in terms of road/rail infrastructure, fibre optic communication infrastructure, reasonable tax rates, good fiscal as well as monetary discipline. Protection of property rights. Diplomacy with govts of alternative markets and not setting prices, actively running industries that can be self sufficient, and grabbing 25% ownership in private run businesses.

  66. Hello all
    #18 Baby C if you suggest that there is something else we could have given them Wht might that be exactly because its not good to just say we could have given them something else without pointing out what that might be….

    PS the cat pic gives the creeps

  67. What ever you are going to say, this man Nyama Soya is a wrong person. How do you feed your neighbours when your own children are starving? Can any body take him to the rural areas so that he sees how people are starving. This is not acceptable. Zambia has in the past spent a lot of money helping Zimbabwe who have not even appretiated, why continue putting your money in the bottomless pit. And what the other contributions from the other SADC members?

  68. Free Market Economist when you do come back , How do we utilize Honey industry as means of diversity coupled with Kapili glass factory for packaging. Your comment on timber, with the availability of raw material of high demand in terms of school desk making ..

    Ans in 30minutes I need to get some drink

  69. I think RB is up to something. Am always suspicious with the president when he trades on maize transactions taking away the little we have, because his son is actually in the maize business. Seriously speaking, a responsible president would not give away maize when Zambians are starving and especially that we are unable, at the moment, to bring down the cost of a millie meal bag for one good reason, not enough maize in the country. Where has this maize come from, well his son may know. We could have helped Zimbambwe in monetary terms maybe. Watch RB’s pace, very soon he’ll talk about importing maize to enrich his son. Just watch his pace.

  70. I believe that it is not the 9000 metric tonnes that Zimbabwe needs.Zimbabwe like Zambia needs a reformation were there should be an inducement in the local people country wide nor matter their level of illiterace to learn to do things on their own.We have the land they have the land and all these lands are fertile.So why should a country blessed with strong people the earth has ever produced and fertile soil suffer?As soon as Zambia fell out of favour with its internatinal friends it will remember each and every grain it has given out.Mugabe has been in government for along time and yet you wonder what he is doing and wonder at the same time the future of the country after him,Africans a stupid actually very stupid.

  71. freemarket capitalist. You nef to know that Textbook Capitalists are on their way down because GREED has overtaken reason. The hunger for huge profits is what drove all the World’s biggest banks into meltdown thereby ruining the global economy. Therefore, while leaving maize marketing completely unregulated could grow the industry, there is also a very strong possibility that the industry would hurt itself through unaffordable prices and possible hoarding by unscrupulous traders to push up the price.

  72. I hope the maize he is busy dishing out to his comrade Mugabe is not the maize grown by some of the same white Zimbabwean farmers whose farms Mugabe grabbed and forcibly exiled into the neighbouring countries including Zambia. I can just imagine their rage at the thought that their maize is being sent to feed the same b.a.s.t.a.r.d that chased them off their farms! What a betrayal of Mwanawasa’s principled stand!!

  73. Zambia zambia zambia,we appreciate that good gesture,but look we have done alot, almost all our neighbour, Zimbabwe firstly we helped them with independence secondly their nation was developed at our expense(our minerials) worse still these brothers of ours they are ungrateful,they were busy laughing at us.And yet we can’t thinking of ourselves thats irrational thinking.we had done lot for our neighbour its time for them to thinking of as now.we are the poorest in the region.

  74. Zambia has done very well in this. The west which gained from both Zambian wealth and Zimbabwean wealth is doing nothing by comparison. They want you to believe that Zambia’s wealth went to develop Zimbabwe. Did they tell you that Zimbabwe’s wealth can be seen everywhere in the UK. Bend down and see whats writen on railway lines from London Waterloo to Bristol, London Euston to the Northwest and on the London underground rail. It is all RISCOM, (Rhodesia Iron and Steel Company, Que Que).

  75. The “President Banda said the agriculture minister Brian Chituwo is making arrangements to have the maize shipped to Zimbabwe as soon as possible” is far much better than giving Zimbabwean leader Mugabe money to sustain his political rhetoric against the British.
    Following ” “We have also discovered in our books that we owe you about 1,000 metric tons of maize. The maize was bought for Zimbabwe a long time ago, but instead of shipping it to you, we shipped it to Swaziland,” Mr. Banda said I am deeply saddened that this is what transpired. In light of this bad ineffectiveness, how many Zimbabwean lives have been lost or greatly impacted? As Zambian, let us learn to be serious in discharging our duties and also ask our leaders to do their job well. High embarrassement!

  76. #10 whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers that you do unto me…we do not help people just because they will help us tomorrow…we help people because there is a need and that need requires someone to fulfill it…and if Zambia is the one to fulfill it then lets do it with open hearts and arms…these are our brothers even though borders may say otherwise and the some of the people may not be grateful or helpful…someone out there is grateful and you have made their day happier. It is more blessed to give than to recieve.

  77. “We have also discovered in our books that we owe you about 1 000 metric
    tonnes of maize. The maize was bought for Zimbabwe a long time ago, but
    instead of shipping it to you, we shipped it to Swaziland,” Banda said.
    HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? BANADYA MABOYI

  78. us Zambians forget easly.is this the same zimbambwe that, its president accused our good president levy to have had coused him to loose his first elections. And later on made levy to colapse. RB is reversing everything levy stood for

  79. Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was once a enjoyment account it. Look complex to far added agreeable from you! However, how could we communicate?

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