Government has banned the export of maize and maize products with immediate effect.
Agriculture Permanent Secretary Julius Shawa says the ban is aimed at stabilizing mealie meal prices across the country.
He says government has established an Inter-agency Team to undertake a verification exercise to ascertain the actual quantities of maize that is held by the Food Reserve Agency -FRA, the Grain and Millers Associations of Zambia and some members of the Zambia National Farmers Union -ZNFU.
Mr. Shawa says the ban is for a period of a week but may be extended depending on the outcome of the verification exercise.
Meanwhile Mr. Shawa said Government will soon issue a Statutory Instrument to ensure that the measures taken to safeguard national food security are backed by a legal instrument.
He said Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) will take charge of all trucks with maize and maize products on all border points adding that the agency will not accept any photocopied documents for any export of maize or maize products.
When was the previous ban unbanned?
So the ban is being effected when there is another ban in effect.These people leading us are nothing but mbuvas.What they have been telling us is that trucks enroute to drc an malawi have been apprehended because there is a ban on the export of maize and mealie meal.So this latest ban represents what mwebantu?? “Ïndeed the gods make you mad before they destroy you”PF is now completely mad!!!
But Guys these people running the show in this country????they say this today tomorrow they say that. What about all those trucks we read about that were impounded for smuggling maize? So fact was these were doing it legally? This govt is very confusing and lack any vision.
People change govt come august.
A ban after 6 consecutive bumper harvests??
What gives?
Someone please tell me that so called Shawa has been misquoted.You mean we have continued exporting maize while we face a calamity.I agree Chagwa must go.Where has he been all this time?Has he not herd that we have a crisis on our hands?
The PF has continued to smuggle maize with great impunity.
Given Zayelo’s lies have been rudely exposed. He’s been telling us the country has enough maize now his PS says they don’t know, they have to verify. In a normal society Given was going to step down for lying to the nation.
“to undertake a verification exercise to ascertain the actual quantities of maize that is held by the Food Reserve Agency -FRA, the Grain and Millers Associations of Zambia and some members of the Zambia National Farmers Union -ZNFU.”
In other words dull Lubinda and his empty tins never knew what was really in stock in the first place..when they were exporting…really laughable.
..this is the time journalist should bombard Lubinda with question….he is taking agricultural ministry as if its an auto-spares ministry…this is equivalent to scandal..he has to resign…
Our journalists are sleeping. They can’t do that!
This when they are banning!
Why ban the export of maize, is there any mealie meal shortages or maize Because according to Given Lubinda your minister sayid there is enough maize and no shortage of mealie meal???
Blame smugglers or exporters not Govt
Blame the Government not smugglers, smugglers can only smuggle if they see a loophole in the marketing system.