Government says it has restricted the importation of refined, packed and bottled edible oils in the country.
Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe says the move is meant to protect the local industry.
Mrs Mwanakatwe said the move will be monitored by various government agencies as it is in line with the government strategy of diversification and industrialization.
ZANIS reports the minister said during a Press Briefing,at her office on Monday  that  various economic players  and the general citizenry should support the government’s move for economic growth and sustainability.
She added that the move will also help facilitate the creation of decent jobs and business linkages in the country.
Edible oil industry has been identified as one of the key sub sectors of the manufacturing sector with potential to make the country self-sufficient in the production of cooking oil and other by-products, she said.
Meanwhile, the Minister also announced that the sale of live birds on wholesale and retail basis at markets will be reserved for citizens and local companies after the publication of the Reservation Scheme Statutory instrument.
Mrs Mwanakatwe explained that the Reservation Scheme was approved by the Republican President and is currently being published at the Government Printing Department.
She further said domestic haulage for all public procurement works will also be reserved for citizens, citizen influenced, citizen-empowered and citizen owned companies while other companies will continue to operate for private works.
Mrs Mwanakatwe explained that the scheme will apply to poultry and domestic haulage for public procurement with immediate effect from the date the Statutory Instrument will be published.
She added that any person who undertakes business in the reserved activities will be guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to a specified fine and imprisonment.
Cabinet in 2015 approved the introduction of Reservation Schemes under the provisions of the Citizen Economic Empowerment Act No. 9 of 2006.
Uko chipante chipante . Trying hard to be relevant, just how many times are you morons going to implement these fake bans if they work at all? Go to the multinational stores you find all sorts of imported oils. Mwafilwafye mayo.
Her sit was nullified, what is this w.h.o.l.e doing? Ukawalala weka weka ba pf…
These chaps will never learn. The last time they implemented such a ban, prices of locally made edible oils went over the roof. The truth is that given the inefficiencies of our manufacturing industries coupled with the monopolistic status, such policies disadvantage the consumer.
Meanwhile they want their tuntemba companies to export under the same so-called export diversification programme. Wait and see how other countries like Kenya and Tanzania that export these oils will react.
The goodness and peaceful natures of Zambians has been taken for granted for sure.
PF are stealing big time and yet people are very quiet about the issue.
kuwayawayafye, edible oils (olive, canola, avocado etc) mu Zambia is being produced by who… unless you are focusing on sunflower oil only
First one to ban foreign goods with no thought but open her bag you will find foreign currencies and diplomatic passports…how is she supportting local industry herself the crook Magaret.
My business needs OLIVE OIL for what we make! Other oils are not suitable.
So must I now close my business? Or start growing olive trees? It takes 20 years before they produce olives.
I will just close. I have other businesses, but I will have to fire 20 workers. And send them to Mwanakatwe to ask for jobs!
I feel your pain …these people are absolute dunderheads…absolute daft chaps.. Imagine where does one get these edible oils as well
Coconut oil
Palm oil
Safflower oil
Sesame oil
Good work done Ba Minister. Its upon us the citizens to make this scheme to succeed. I believe local edible oil companies will not abuse the good gesture from the Government and increase the prices. This was seen last year when there was a partial restriction on edible oils importation . The Minister needs to be supported. I for one believe that the role of Government is to create a conducive environment good enough to attract participation from the citizens.
@ BM: You are over- banking on morality . There is no guarantee that the local manufacturers will behave morally well. Sorry for the pun; I can bet my balls
@ BM
You already lost your bet. Last time price of local edible oil increased by average of 150% within ten days of ban been introduced. Even today, the price of substandard local edible oil its higher than imported one.
As to supporting Minister, are you nuts? She does not have slightest idea what is doing.
This again..U turn again remember what happened last time; why can you not simply increase duty on these products and kill two birds with one stone instead of this folly.
Increasing duty is a good measure, but not in Zambia where corruption is rampant. This will just enrich ZRA customs officials just like duty on vehicles which is exhorbitantly high & people end up oiling officials’ hands to the detriment of GRZ revenue. The same ZRA tricks GRZ that duty in Zambia is the lowest in the region & we should double it knowing very well that when people fail to pay they will suggest bribery as the best solution.
Banning just increasing smuggling…with high returns as the local product is not up to standard yet!!
Stability is having policies and laws that last a minimum of 5 years. Edible oil import bans have been announced like confetti – every seven months!!!!
These people will are paying a lot of money to in govt are not worthy of half that salary…i am for them to work part-time starting with that lazy good nothing bum in State House.
*These people we are paying a lot of money to in govt..
Extend the ban to imported fresh tomatoes. Your friends Botswana & Mauritius have already done so due to the outbreak of TLM – Tomato Leaf Miner ( Tuta Absoluta) in the region.
Too many u-turns per Zed. Increase 50 percent tarrifs and remove street vendors and don’t listen to the useless Mawanakalobe
This is chipantepante at its best. It is not only edible oils but a lot of economic activities being done by foreigners. Sit down with relevant associations like Zambia Association of Manufacturers, ZNFU, ZACCI, Association of Building & Civil Engineers, Bus Drivers & Motor Taxis Association, Zambia Federation of Employers, etc. Identify industries, goods, services, jobs in which we are stronger & restrict those to locals including jobs & businesses. Then for difficult areas in which we are weak, open it to foreigners & come up with points system to screen applicants otherwise you will continue getting garbage which doesn’t even qualify in their foreign own countries. How do you import everything even foreign prostitutes to meet local men’s demand?
@8 TRUE ZAMBIA, that is the ONLY WAY THINGS CAN WORK, your suggestion is an HOLISTIC APPROACH NOT GUESS WORK! IF they looked well and WORKED WITH SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS YOU HAVE MENTIONED, THEY COULD HAVE SEEN THAT ALMOST ALL AREAS ARE AFFECTED. Just afew days, Guy Robinson was complaining about the flood of CHEAP and LIKELY SUBSIDIZED IMPORTED DAIRY PRODUCTS that are CHOCKING OUR LOCAL DAIRY FARMERS and PROCESSORS. So why take isolated measures instead of holistically looking at things!
kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk ati foreign prostitutes to meet local men’s demands
The government is trying to support local companies and all what we hear from our LEARNED bloggers are negative comments. What do we want? Most of you are just workers hence you do not understand how this will assist local businessmen in Zambia.
This ban was announced even last year, who lifted it and when? I thought the ban is still in effect. Moreover the article says restricted not banned. Ban it completely forever.
By the way, Government does not deserve praise for doing its job. The ministers are not doing a charity but they get paid heft salaries so let them be consistent and give us all a life we deserve. Ban importation of all things produced locally such as Tomato, Vegetables and oil. We have enough.
I life a happy life and it goes on…
THE POINT THE BLOGGERS ARE TRYING TO MAKE IS YOU CANNOT BAN SOMETHING THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN BANNED LAST YEAR !!!!!!!!!!! IN OTHER WORDS THEY ARE BANNING A BAN !
Thats probably because they secretly reversed the ban.
How can one provide you positive comments? Unless you want lies…other countries remove completely import duty on all edible oils pressing machines, labelling machines, bottling machines then increase import duty on the imported oil.
@ ARSE LICKING PF MPIKA CADRE
And what you understand about trade, commerce, industry and investment?
Same as Minister, NOTHING
I hope you will not u-turn and start lecturing us about SADC and COMESA protocols.
Protocols without ratification are useless
I am afraid a 5 liter container will shoot from K69 to K200 in a matter of one week.
Zambian entrepreneurs are cons and will just take advantage instead of multiplying production, they will look at taking advantage.
There are no indigenous Zambians in food, drink, processing industries. It is mostly Zambians from India who enjoy cartels for everything. But all the same it is better than importing because our own Zambians from India they provide employment for maids & gardeners which most indigenous Zambians fail to do. They have been helping us to put food on our tables for so many years.
Madam you protect the local industry by supporting it. You don’t just ban imports and call it supporting local industries. But you also know that your move will make cooking oil expensive, Not so?
Its laziness instead of first making the local product more competitive and cheaper they simply ban causing a surge in demand..meaning prices shoot up..its a no brainer.
am only worried over one thing at the moment. thousands of farmers in this country do the farming along the rail lines and the main tarmac just becoz they can not access land anywhere. meanwhile some old and current politicians own hectares and hectares of un utilized land. a complete ban is possible only if land is reasonably shared and productivity is enhanced. try to interview them along all roads and rail lines across the country and hear their story. some are even more productive than those that own hundreds of hectares. as such Zambia produces less than 25 percent of her capacity.
The challenge we have in Zambia is that the edible oil manufacturing companies are owned by foreigners who have no sense of developing this country but to make money and buy properties in USA and Europe. If Indigenes can venture into these businesses with the seriousness required to do business we can see much industrialization in Zambia. Further more universities and colleges should get land to start participating in these ventures. Not only for generating income for operations but also to enable graduates have a clear understanding of real life business experiences. Away from cooking oil, look at our roads and we have generations of civil engineering graduates in this nation. Is it possible that no one can think of a way out.
If you want to promote Zambian manufacturing look to your collegues in Tamzania…they have completely banned importation of 2nd hand clothing. In Zambia we even allow 2nd hand panties, underwear, petty coats etc.
Why are we getting defeated even before the ban has been tested?
Because they did before..
Madam Minister, have you found your handbag yet ?
Yes, thank you I found my handbag. But while I was looking for it I lost something else.
My honesty and integrity. Maybe this is an infectious disease spreading through PF party just like the microcephaly being spread by those bloodsucking mosquitoes causing the ZIKA VIRUS spread.
Can you help me pay back my CEEC loan?
At least the gov’t is securing a niche for citizens to benefit from the economy. Buy Zambian and support your local businesses.
Where can you buy Zambian olive oil? In your 5tupid head? Shut-up you arse licker
Looks like she hasn’t yet completely sobered up from her sojourn at Mayela night club in Kalingalinga? You need to discuss such a matter with all stakeholders before making what I would deem an ‘informed’ decision. But then, I remember Mayela ‘claiming’ a lot of peoples senses all those years ago after over indulging.
Unthought through
“…Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe says the move is meant to protect the local industry…”
CRAP
Hon. Minister, your ministry and yourself are the sole CAUSE for lawlessness, incompetence, institutionalized corruption and influence peddling affecting commerce, trade, industry and investment.
Totally and absolutely USELESS and INCOMPETENT FAILURE as Minister.