Saturday, April 20, 2024

Maize scam unearthed in Chipata

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Farmers in Moyo chiefdom of Pemba district found knitting the 50 Kilogrammes bags of maize for sell at one of the Food Reserve Agency depots in the area.

Government has unearthed a scam in which a local maize exporting company smuggled two hundred and forty metric tons of maize, using the Zambia railways limited into neighbouring Malawi.

Chipata District Commissioner Kalunga Zulu said AFGRI has continued exporting maize to neighbouring countries, despite government issuing a ban on the export of maize.

Mr Zulu, who led a team of law enforcement agencies to Chipata railway station, found another 234 metric tons destined for Malawi by the same company.

He noted that Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has not been able to purchase enough stock for the national strategic reserves due to such dubious activities by private buyers who want to make huge profits, by smuggling the commodity out of the country.

And Mr Zulu has also expressed concern that AFGRI used a government institution ZRL to export the maize into the neighbouring country.

He has since directed Zambia National Services (ZNS) officers to move the maize consignment to FRA sheds after which authorities will guide on the next course of action.

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