BRITISH High Commissioner to Zambia Fergus Cochrane has advised the government to allow commercial farmers to export maize to Zambia’s neighbouring countries if the nation records a bumper harvest in the 2016/2017 farming season.
Mr Cochrane was speaking in an interview in Choma said the exportation of the maize to the neighbouring countries would be beneficial to the country’s economy.
Mr Cochrane said the exportation of the maize would also enable the country to be recognised as the major exporter of maize in the region which the nation and the citizenry would also be proud of.
He said the next step that the government should consider was the exportation of maize but the priority was to ensure there was adequate stock in the food reserve.
“I think in all this, what is important is government to allow commercial farmers to export maize. Hoping that Zambia has a bumper harvest it should be proud to share that bounty with the countries that are less fortunate, like for example Malawi, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Angola.
“My understanding is that there is enough food in reserve and the next step that the government should be looking at is maize export and Zambia will be recognised as the maize exporter or let me use the cliché as the breadbasket of Southern Africa which all Zambians will be proud of,” he said.
He said there was need for the country to avoid dependence on copper but to diversify and have an emphasis on agriculture.
Meanwhile Mr Cochrane who arrived in the country before the 2016 general elections said the British Government has recognised the current government that was in place.
He said there was need for healing and the ruling party should reach out to the people that did not vote for current government for the good of the country.
“I think it is important that the government reaches out to those who didn’t vote for the ruling party or the President. It’s clear who won the elections. The UK has recognised the results.
“But there’s more work to be done as there’s need for healing for those people who were disappointed with the results this should involve all from both sides for the good of Zambia,” he said.
The High Commissioner also visited the Zambia Sugar Company in Mazabuka and also visited some beneficiaries of the UK Emergency Cash Transfer in Pemba and there after proceeded to Choma and would today be in Livingstone.
“I think it is important that the government reaches out to those who didn’t vote for the ruling party or the President. It’s clear who won the elections. The UK has recognised the results.
Meanwhile, Police in Mwinilunga district in Northwestern has arrested one Zambian and two Congolese nationals for allegedly attempting to smuggle 119 by 25 kilogram bags of Mealie meal to the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo through the Kabimba boarder.
Northwestern Province Police Commissioner Auxension Daka who confirmed the incident in an interview with ZANIS in Mwinilunga today identified the culprits as Elliot Ndeki aged 27 a Zambia and Lutumba Mudikolela age 32 and Mbikayi aged 40 both of Lubumbashi in Congo DR.
Mr Daka said Police have since impounded the canter truck registration number ACZ 3536 which was being driven by Elliot Ndeki belonging to a named teacher which was found 100 kilometers away from the boarder recently.
The trio have since been charged with attempted smuggling contrary to section 147 Cap 335 Customs and Excise Act and will appear in court soon.
In a related development police have also recovered 10 x 50 kilogram bags of maize out of 200 bags from a truck registration number ABZ 7256 which was involved in an accident 25 kilometer away from the Kambimba boarder as it attempted to smuggle the commodity to DR Congo.
Mr Daka said another truck was used to ferry maize across the border and only 10 bags where recovered adding that no arrest was made as the culprits fled into Congo DR.
Listen and listen carefully we not proud of Britain. You good at talking but you’re too bad with your foreign policy. Just to visit your country you look at us like we are there to stay. Rubbish
Typical African mentality to want to listen to bwana “muzunga” when your fellow African told you this very same advise 20 years ago.
The PF has by default criminalized our farmers and turned them into smugglers of their own produce.
Only Dolla Siliti and fellow minions are allowed to export maize and cash in big time.
Days are numbers.
I see nothing wrong for commercial farmers to export. I see everything wrong with the British High Commissioner telling us that. We know already and his statement adds know value. We also reserve the right to impose barriers to trade if it benefits our country and preserves peace and food security. I seriously dont think it is in order or in his right for this British envoy to say that.
The British would not advise you to act in manner that is contrary to their interests. Hidden in the statement is the fact that Commercial farmers will earn the foreign exchange but will keep it in their offshore bank accounts, mostly British banks.
Commercial farmers are in a Pandora bracelet on maize export outside Zambia. It is bandit Dora the explorer Siliti & visionless Lungu who won’t allow farmers to export the maize.
Until bandit Siliti is fired over her maize gate scandal in Malavi~where the COI there found Dora wanting to corruption.
Zambian farmers are suffering at the hands of visionless PF of Lungu who even failed to deliver farming inputs on time.
Exporting of maize is only for Siliti & PF bandits.
The Skeleton Key
~206~
@Misango Yaba Chaimani, peolple like you need to be given a loud speaker so that even “BANKOMA MATWI AND BAKA MYANGA MYANGA BANSAPATO SHA BASUNGU (BOOT-LIKERS)” can be resurrected from the dead! Exactly what you have said my fellow Country-Man is what these hypocritical capitalists want. They are not interested in the welfare of Zambian Commercial Farmers all they want is to strengthen their currency “pound”. The one thing abasungu will not show you is how to make money out of money as they want you to remain ignorant. That’s why they promote ifima educational status ifya endelela so that umuntu (African) ale yumfwa ati nifwe ba kantwa(Dr, Professor etc) whilst they are developing their country in the back-ground…… yayayayayaya!!!!
The high commissioner’s opinion is respected.
In fact it is okay to exchange ideas and opinions.
I also have an option about Britain.
Britain should not come out of European Union just because they don’t want to help refugees.
Every country has a duty to show love and a human face. Why take such move merely because you don’t want to help people who are ravaged by war?
Therefore Britain must go back to the polls for another referendum to reverse the so called Brexit. Britain has an international duty to help refugees and show humanity to other people.
But if Edward allows this then GBM will get richer and dislodge him from power. Edward is a scare little rat who wants to stay in power forever somehow!!
PF are nothing more than a profiteering scam, anything that smells like cash is “for PF only”.
Let the farmers decide their market, not state house. It’s just petty micro management.
Actually small scale farmers are the ones that should organise themselves into export cooperatives and be allowed to export maize without going through the complicated process of obtaining an export permit. Commercial farmers externalise their funds, no way you think a big boer farmer from Mkushi is going to deposit USD 1 million into a Zambian bank! That money will go straight into an SA bank.
In the case of small scale farmers that money would go straight in circulation in Zambia!
But unfortuanely Mutati being an MMD chap only thinks of what he can get personally and not the benefit of the average Zambian!
I expect to harvest 250 bags and I am asking government to allow to export 200 bags. This way I stand to make a decent profit from my sweat.
The reference to the 2016 Elections and the comments made are contradictory. Mr Cochrane knows the Elections were disputed and a Petition is in Court and therefore the case ia subjudice and there is no way a seasoned Diplomat like him would have made such comments. Its all propaganda spin. The illegitimate Lungu govt is having sleepless nights over the Petition. If Lungu was indeed democratically, legally and Constitutionally elected and inaugurated why not prove this in Court and thereafter Recognition will follow automatically. The guilty are very afraid..very afraid. Let ICJ hear the Petition and declare the Winner. Period.
Thank you Mr Cochrane for stating the obvious
“THE BRITISH GOVT RECOGNISE THE CURRENT GOVT THAT WAS IN PLACE” and “ITS CLEAR WHO WON THE ELECTIONS, THE BRITISH GOVT RECOGNISES THE RESULTS”
Ba United Dunderheads can you read the above please!
Meanwhile we are expecting the ICC to issue a statement on Human Hyena and GBV for their role in inciting the post election violence in the United Dunderhead strongholds!
#CageHHandGBVfortheViolence!
They will continue disputing 2016 elections, 2021, 2026 and beyond. Please let them enjoy their only consolidation ie to dispute elections.
Last time i checked your pf law Lewis mosho was talking about reporting HH and GBM to the ICC, what has changed now, why do you want to withdraw Zambia from the ICC after reporting HH and GBM?
I doubt if the cock ramp made such a statement, if he did it’s a known secret, European nature it’s in their DNA, for business deals for their country men they always support anything, Gaddafi was making serious business deals with them a week before the uprising, once they saw that people are winning, they changed camp, he just wants to find a way to make these p fools to stop the ban on maize exports, and he knows he can only win this by praise singing, they know what Africans love, been praised.
The same ICC pf want Zambia to withdraw from, the same ICC you don’t want UPND to go to, same ICC pf lawyer Lewis mosho reported HH and GBM to, the same ICC.
I agree with the high commissioner but the problem is this government stops commercial farmers to from exporting the commodity because the president and his ministers are the ones that export to benefit themselves. Shame!
I hated her before but absolutely loathed her after the o02s2mewhat desperate seller and really time on the market” remark. BITCH. That hit close to home for me. I mean, good for you that you got lucky and all, but could you not gloat about it? Especially since your own money didn’t exactly go into the first house you had, possibly making it easier for you to sell it?
Zambia should set a higher target for maize production next year of at least 5 million metric tonnes with a target of reaching 10 million metric tonnes in the next 5 years. This will ensure adequate stocks for local consumption and for export. All this talk of smuggling should be a thing of the past with adequate production. The peasant farmers through the fertilizer and other inputs support program could be the government partners for this increased production creating a win-win for all in the nation. It can be done.
Zambia would be a big loser should commercial farmers be allowed to export their maize. Firstly, these commercial farmers, who are mostly whites from Rhodesia and S. Africa got land from the Zambian government to improve agriculture. And in most cases, the Zambian government rolled out a red carpet for these people with massive amounts of money spent to develop the so called “Farming Blocks” for them. Secondly, these same commercial farmers have access to cheap financing from their home countries, making the indigenous farmer noncompetitive. Therefore, once these commercial farmers start exporting their maize, Zambia would have nothing to show for the land dished out to them as the proceeds would be off-loaded into their foreign bank accounts and lead to zero benefits for Zambia.
Mwape,
What is the source and basis of information that commercial farmers in Zambia ” are mostly mostly whites from Rhodesia and S. Africa”? What I know is that the majority of the commercial farmers in areas like Chisamba, Mazabuka, Mkushi, and indeed in many parts of Zambia are second, third, even fourth generation white Zambians. Are you telling us that the Miller, Shone, Irwin, Moffat, Luyt, Powell, Fisher, and other such white farmers whose families have been here as long as hundred or more years are foreigners?
Wrong they employ locals and pay tax and grow on a large scale with high yields 100x better than local villagers
Very illiterate and shallow reasoning, you need a higher education. Obviously you are not an expert at international trade. Stop spewing ignorance.
How about Zambians organize themselves and export Mealie Meal, Cornbread, Opaque Bear, Chicken feed, Maheu and other corn related products instead; those seem to have more added value.
And Zambians should consider doing away with mono diets of meat, veg and Nshima daily, nobody sees the potential food disaster should we not have a bumper harvest? It should be about abundance and creativity.
Try replacing your Nshima with other healthy starches like Cassava, Sorghum, Quinoa, Sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes; I would say rice but that is expensive (opportunity for farming cooperatives).
We can also get creative with other starches like tuning Millet into some kind of exotic dish, like has been done with wheat and pasta.
Or instead you can replace the starch with healthy…
Uku kutumpa ba LT, moderation ndiye vichani?
Mwape,
What is the source and basis of information that commercial farmers in Zambia ” are mostly mostly whites from Rhodesia and S. Africa”? What I know is that the majority of the commercial farmers in areas like Chisamba, Mazabuka, Mkushi, and indeed in many parts of Zambia are second, third, even fourth generation white Zambians. Are you telling us that the Miller, Shone, Irwin, Moffat, Luyt, Powell, Fisher, and other such white farmers whose families have been here as long as hundred or more years are foreigners?
Fact, ignore Mwape with his myopia and phobia for the unknown. The families you refer o above are Zambians and all their investments have created a lot of Zambian jobs in addition to their contribution to the treasury through taxes. Ignore Mwape for who he is!
Let’s discuss value addition to our maize. One colleague has put up a very valid point that we should export processed maize to DRC, Angola, Malawi and Zimbabwe. Let’s export mealie meal, corn flour, stock feed, etc. This is what will create jobs and wealth for our country.
@Facts thanks for putting the record straight! #Mwape now has selective amnesia and now diverted to reclaiming that “…… Last year, SADC (sic) had the worst drought in 35 years. Zambia was hit too” when the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) starts from Mozambique and hits the SADCC countries in the same way! Zambia is blessed with land so what happens in Eastern Province might be significantly different from what’s happening in say Malawi or Zimbabwe. What I know is Malawi had a serious floods 2 years ago and has never recovered. Mozambique on the other hand has new sources of income (coal, oil etc) so revenue drop might be insignificant! On the other hand Zimbabwe is another chapter. Zambia could be a bread basket if we had selfless leader! I’m afraid both ECL and HH don’t…
Cont/….. I’m afraid both ECL and HH don’t inspire me. However, if I were the president, I would scrap maize as a subsidise crop and introduce high value crops such as barley, vegetables etc. But the we are in Zambia…..
Zambia should not listen to these oppressors. Don’t allow grains to e exported. Lets ensure we add value to maize before export. Either we crush or mill it then package it nicely with standard packinging and labels. This will retain 95%of jobs to our local people and earn high forex. If you export raw grains the buyers will get it cheaply and put there industry to work and give them more jobs. Think please it doesn’t pain.
By this time we should be positioning our industry to start production of maize related products e.g. corn puffs energy drinks, pastas, mealie meal, popcorn jigies etc. This will create local employment and increase in food variety. Those who are dreaming of exporting raw grains should think of other things to do. We can be always an economy full of traders. We need to industrialise and begin to manufacture products for export.
good idea, export as a processed product
Plenaisg to find someone who can think like that
PF Bloggers live on cloud 9. This Article is all propaganda. Mr Cochrane is a seasoned Diplomat who cannot issue a statement like that “recognising” Lungu’s govt. The purpose of the Article was simply to claim that Lungu’s govt is legitimate and is recognised by the British govt. Illegitimate Lungu is feeling the heat of stolen elections and illegitimacy. Lungu is haunted by the Petition and is not sure of how to handle it going forward. On March 14 & 15, 2017 Lungu has to come up with another excuse for the HC to postpone its decision on the UPND Petition. The problem is that now that 6 months is up the Petitioners can take their case to ICJ with or without HC decision. At ICJ Lungu and his useless AG will make fools of themselves. Their case is dog’s breakfast and HH & GBM will…
Iwee Mwansa or Mwanya, we are discussing the exporting of maize in it’s raw or processed and all you saw in this article is the political side. Some of you are as well as dead with your political desperation.
,
This guy was complaining about lungu just last week when I paid him a courtesy visit in London. I will be travelling back tomorrow. I miss home where I belong. Back to pfs poverty. The fight continues
Black munthu, please listen to that wise counsel from Britain. The market is yawning with superficial profits and you are calling people trying to seize the opportunity as smugglers. Unless you are misleading us that there is a bumper harvest, we can export the surplus
i LOVED the video! it was great Paige & Justin have such easy to see chgiistry!Pamee im really sorry these haters are saying rude things out of there own self esteem issues! but sweetheart your goregous & i love you in everybody hates chris!Justin keep up the great work!lots of love!GOD bless everyone!
WE CALL THIS OFF SIDE IN FOOTBALL. THE DIPLOMAT SHOULD NOT HAVE OPENED HIS MOUTH ABOUT ELECTIONS. THESE FOREIGNERS DO NOT RESPECT THE COURTS OF LAW IN ZAMBIA AND THEY JUST YAP ANYHOW. WHY CAN’T THEY WAIT UNTIL THE MATTER IS CONCLUDED. WHEN BALLOT PAPERS ARE BEING TRANSPORTED AT MIDNIGHT THEY ARE SLEEPING IN THEIR HOUSES AND THE FOLLOWING DAY THEY SAY THIS ONE HAS WON. FOOL.ISH WHITE MAN.
Zambians are tired of being asked to recognise Lungu as the Legitimate President of Zambia even though most of us voted for HH. Its high time the Petitioners referred the Petition to ICJ for a Ruling. We will accept ICJ’s verdict and recognise the declared Winner. Based on evidence b4 us we are confident that our HH will be declared the Winner of the 2016 Elections without a doubt. The Petitioners and the Petitioned should accept the ICJ Verdict which we hope will reflect the Will of the People. Amen.
Which Zambians? I am sure you mean Upnd diehards?
I am 100% sure Mr Cochrane, a seasoned Diplomat did not give an Opinion on the outcome of Zambia’s 2016 Disputed Elections. Mr Cochrane cannot interfere in Zambia’s internal Affairs and besides he knows the Petition is in Court and therefore subjudice. The Article is written by a PF Spin Doctor seeking Recognition from the British govt for the Illegitimate Lungu Regime. This propaganda will not work. Lungu should simply prove in Court that he was democratically ,legally and Constitutionally elected. ICJ should help in adjudicating this Petition b4 we witness social strife in Zambia.
Kikikiki
Last year, SADC had the worst drought in 35 years. Zambia was hit too, but not to the extent of the disaster that occurred in Malawi, SA, Zimbo.
This year they too have good rains and are predicting bumper crops themselves. SA projects a 1 million ton surplus, SA being the historical supplier to Zim.
What makes you think that there is a massive export market awaiting your bumper crop? Prices locally are going to crash and peasant farmers will be liquidated in the process.
Dont get too carried away just because of the export demand in 2016 due to you getting some rains whilst neighbouring countries got none
A few years ago when I was a student in the US I run into a family in a restaurant. They were evidently very happy and where having a good time. I took a booth next to them and then it struck me there we speaking in a local dialect interspersed with English. There were Zambians! That was my first personal encounter with Andy KM. He invited me to sit with them whilst I waited for my order, he introduced me to his wife and two daughters and joked that one of them was seeking to get married. He remained a close mentor, his vision, his campaign strategy his hopes and aspirations inspired me to return home and work. I miss you my great leader rest always in the merciful arms of the Lord. 2021 Zambia forward under new leadership
Peasant farmers get FISP fertiliser, seed and chemical. Its a subsidy that costs hundreds of millions of $.
Thats why Govt doesnt want this maize that has chewed millions to go towards exports. The FISP subsidised maize must benefit Zambia through lower mealie meal prices.
On the other hand, commercial farmers pay for their inputs. No Govt assistance.
Thats why peasant maize cannot be exported but commercial farmers who pay their own costs may be allowed to export.
Its got nothing to do with muzungu supporting muzungu.
So friends, think before you pull out the race card. As it is, if we could farm and mine ourselves, why would muzungu be here. Have you seen muzungu farmers and miners in Asia
?
Mwape, let us not get lost in definitions of who is a commercial, small scale, peasant farmer and so forth. It is a small fraction of farmers who access this fisp facility, if you follow what really goes on there. I would urge that anyone who has excess of their consumption requirements be allowed and facilitated to sell to the best market. Why should I produce my maize at great expense and be constrained from prosperity by subsidizing others as they assisted me when I was spending to produce, no. If you want subsidize me as well otherwise keep those regulations to the fisp beneficiaries.
Mr Mwape, last year the govt allowed small scale farmers to sell their maize to private buyers on the local market. FRA was unable to cope with payments to small scale farmers so rather than inconveniencing the small scale farmers they allowed them to sell directly to companies such as NWK, Cargill, Afgri as well as millers such as Superior, Antelope, Olympic etc. Only a percentage of what was on the market was bought by FRA. Now if we can retain the quota of maize needed by FRA and then allow the small scale farmers to sell to Congo etc then where is the problem? Commercial farmers must be given a quota to supply to millers and the rest they can also export. Empowering the small scale farmers to earn Forex will boost the economy and greatly increase their returns so they graduate from…
Ctn so that small scale farmers can graduate from being peasant farmers to being emergent and finally commercial farmers as well.
The small scale farmers through an organised platform that is a “local export cooperative” should be given priority to export over commercial farmers.
This is not to say commercicial farmers shouldn’t be allowed- let the commercial farmer first meet the requirement from the millers before they can export so as to avoid food shortages. FRA should also meet their requirement from small scale farmers then allow them to export without any hindrance. Small scale farmers also need to excel!
There is plenty Muzungu’s mining in Asia, mostly Australian, Yanks and Canadians
Unfortunately low level minded people like Mwape usually end up in office like the ones we are seeing in PF and all normal citizens get screwed up
This Muzungu want a CUT, why is he becoming a mouthpiece of other ba zungus???
Is that really all there is to it because that’d be flbaiergastbng.
Commercial farmers should consider Zambia first before being allowed to export. Of what benefit would they be if after damaging our soils with fertilizers export the produce and consequently send their money to other places. This is what is happening in the emeralds industry where the late Michael (as Meembe used to call him ) MHSRIP, instructed the auctioneers to conduct their business from within and the results were fantastic. But who ever decided to reverse the trend must have a “better plan” than the late president had. Can we be told who changed and why.
The Indians who own kagem mine were not happy doing auctions in zambia and they are not happy adding value to the emeralds in zambia. They what to do everything out side at a great loss to zambia.
Some one state house is being bribed to forgo the benifits to zambia of local auctions and jewelry production.
Botswana banned her diamonds being sent abroad and only does so after they create max benifit to the country in terms of employment and harnessing local talent.
Now those Indians just bribe PF and move everything out.
Export permit olo not, maize or lmealie meal has always found itselkf in our neighbours homes from time pas; so dont educate us on things we know wello wello. by the way lets talkj about Brexit, how are you proceeding; former PM john is very against it. i advise you deal with that , then we can meet paka kaweche pamulu, we chat… wilatufyuma mu brain iwe…
Forsøger at tagge mig pÃ¥ de sorte bukser øverst i højre hjørne. men Facebook orienterer mig om at de har blokeret min adgang til at tagge, da jeg har violated facebook rules eller noget i den dur! Spdneænde! Kan man klage til facebook over at de fratager mig muligheden for at vinde verdens pæneste bukser? 🙂
This is not a new story, even options of organising small scale farmers to export maize are already known. The problem is that Maize is a political crop. Once export is permitted, mealie meal prices will sky rocket and the government will be in great trouble. This can only work if Zambians tsignificantly reduce intake of nshima and start eating other alternativeto meals..
Zambia is already exporting maize to Malawi except that proceeds from that goes into Lungu and Dollar Siliya pockets. The British High Commissioner is aware of this development.
So Zambia is now too food secure? They should be exporting staples like maize?
I’m sorry, however we shouldn’t be taking economic advice from Conservatives, or any neoliberals.
When the IMF advised Malawi to sell it’s foodstocks, there was a famine and thousands of people died.
You Liar!
Who is this i.d.i.ot commenting on our disputed election? do us a favour s.t.p.id ambbasodor, ask on our own behalf when a new young energetic democratic queen will be elected in your country, otherwise shut up!
Those of us who know Lungu expect him to implement this next week since a muzungu has spoken.