The Ministry of Agriculture has with immediate effect lifted the ban on the export of mealie meal.
In a statement made available to ZANIS today, Minister of Agriculture Michael Katambo said this is to ensure a smooth flow of exports of mealie meal.
Mr. Katambo said the ministry will apply a regulated export regime that they have been using to facilitate maize seed exports through the Eastern and Southern African region and so far worked well.
He however said it should be noted that millers who have accessed the government subsidized maize from the FRA, will not be allowed to get import permits for mealie meal.
Mr. Katambo further warned that state security agencies will also remain on alert in strategic cross-border points to ensure that illegal exports are kept in check.
He said this decision was arrived at in close consultations by the Ministry of Agriculture with key stakeholders that included the Grain Traders Association (GTAZ), The Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ), The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU), Zambia Agricultural Commodity Exchange (ZAMACE) as well as the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
Mr. Katambo said having established that the country currently has in excess of 700,000 metric tonnes of maize grain stocks, government is convinced that the country is food secure and that mealie meal prices will remain fairly stable.
He has urged farmers, millers and grain traders to take advantage of this market window and close deals with importers in close border markets, particularly those from Congo DR.
Mr. Katambo explained that from the consultation that government has been having with stakeholders in the agriculture industry, it has become very clear that as a country, there is need to develop a predictable and transparent agricultural commodity marketing system.
“He however said it should be noted that millers who have accessed the government subsidized maize from the FRA, will not be allowed to get import permits for mealie meal.”
But proxy companies for ministers will definitely take advantage of this….I mean how can they tell that the accessed it from FRA.
Chipaaaaaaaaaante pante
Money money money. Now it’s open to selected few.
This is time of the year when those FRA junior officers get very rich for looking the other way…these boys walk in Toyota Zambia and buy jeeps cash. …all FRA maize will disappear to Malawi and Zim…
Cadres are real and they do run the country. What is going on with the PF members on the Copperbelt who were caught exporting maize to DRC?
Christmas come early for Cadre Monkeys and Hyenas …time to clean out FRA stocks
Terrible! Very inconsistent policies for this government. Its all lost oblivion.
We always tell you that foreigners are ruling our country. They don’t care about us. They only care for their nationals. SHAME!
I SUSPECT A BEMBA GOVT OFFICIAL HAS CLINCHED A DEAL
THERE IS DROUGHT IN SOUTHERN AND WESTERN PROVINCE AND HUNGER IS LOOMING. . WHY EXPORT MEALIE MEAL
IN BEMBA LAND WERE MY TRIBAL COUSINS LIVE THERE IS ABUNDANT RAINS DAMAGING BRIDGES BUT THE CHAPS ARE LAZY BWAFWILISHO BWAFWILISHO BWAFWILISHO EVERYDAY AND MONKEY STEALING IS ALL THEY KNOW
ONE BEMBA TOLD ME THAT EASTERNAZ ARE STUPIT BECAUSE THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO STEAL. ATI IF AN EASTERNER PICKS WALLET FOR BOSS HE WILL SURRENDER IT
We are not interested in your tribal drivel here…please leave it Facebook forums before you come here!!
Y do u lov tribal talk kanshi
Its Political people like you have really killed the prospects of a Tonga running the country. Even when adored by masses but your mentality causes fear what is called stereotyping of potential leaders. Do they think like you. Mwaiche ba kunyele kumput1. Your the cause of failure of opposition
It doesn’t make sense to make pronousements on lifting up maize export ban in a very very hard year like this one. What a misplaced decision.
Its just a tactic to move stock they have stolen already from FRA…they will impose the ban once they are finished.
This is weird, after you bought $3.5m wealth of maize from chi toll tell lie then you lift a ban for export.
Not when a drought is looming!
These import and export controls on maize and mealie meal boggle the mind in this day and age. Whatever happened to market forces – demand and supply regulating the volumes and pricing. The export controls are the ones which create artificial shortages hence leading to smuggling. Otherwise if there was sustained demand both locally and regionally the farmers and millers will produce more, no shortage and no need for smuggling!!
What am I missing?
How come you lift the ban when it is white and black that the harvest will be very poor. Why can’t the government buy the maize from farmers and stock it, hunger is rooming already. You would rather start importing staple food after selling to neighbouring countries when you had enough so that tuma tender continue.