Cabinet at its 22nd special sitting held on 4th December 2019 gave approval, in principle, to the Ministerial Technical Committee for the cultivation, processing and exporting of cannabis for economic and medicinal purposes.
Chief Government spokesperson Dora Siliya said the Ministerial Technical Committee comprises of Ministers of Justice, Defence, Home Affairs, Finance, National Development Planning, Commerce, Trade and Industry, Agriculture and Health.
Ms Siliya said in this regard, Cabinet directed the Ministry of Health to provide overall leadership and coordinate the issuance of licenses for the cultivation, processing and export of cannabis for medicinal purposes under the Dangerous Drugs, CAP. 95.
She said in a statement that Cabinet also directed that the Ministry of Health ensures that applicable policy guidelines and procedures are followed as well as ensure that the implementation is within the existing policy guidelines and overall legal framework in consultation with any relevant Ministries and other relevant stakeholders.
Ms Siliya said the Ministry of Health was further directed to provide Cabinet with a periodic update on the implementation of this Cabinet decision.
Earlier today, Ministry of Health Spokesperson Abel Kabalo said that the government had not in any way legalised the use of marijuana, adding that reports circulating on social media suggesting otherwise are false and should be regarded as fake news.
Speaking to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Dr Kabalo said there is need to exercise patience, adding that government makes official pronouncements, using official channels and not what is being done on social media.
He advised that once a policy pronouncement has been passed, the ministry is alerted by cabinet office, adding that such communication has not been made.
“As a ministry we cannot comment on the legalisation of marijuana because cabinet hasn’t officially announced its position,” Dr. Kabalo said.
Dr Kabalo has advised members of the public to be cautious and worry of fake reports, as well as learn the right channels through which information can be verified, before going into panic.
This comes after social media reports suggesting that the government has approved a proposal issued by the Minister of Health to legalize the production of marijuana for exportation and medical use.
Pante pante government. Some are saying it’s illegal others legal. This is the uncertainty that people live in under the pf. This is how it started with the makula issue. Its only legal for pf
This is very sad episode in Zambia.
As Christian nation; my foot. Just allow homosexuality as well. Hypocrites
Cabinet at its 22nd special sitting held on 4th December 2019, while cultivation had start ages ago and probably exporting.
IN GOVT TO STEAL IDEAS OF OTHERS, UNDERMINING INNOVATION. WHAT DOES THE LAW ON CONFLICT OF INTEREST SAY IN AS FAR AS GOVERNANCE IS CONCERNED.
“it’s like dracula running a blood bank”
Who will hands on the money? The farmer or Lungu and his PF kaponyashas.
Warning! The Surgeon General warns
Cigarette smoking is dangerous, dangerous
Hazard to your health
Does that mean anything to you
To legalize marijuana
Right here in Jamaica
I’m say it cure glaucoma
I’m another Bush Doctor
So there’ll be
No more smokin’ and feelin’ tense
When I see them a come
I don’t have to jump no fence
Legalize marijuana
Down here in Jamaica
Only cure for asthma
I’m another Minister(of the Herb)
So there’ll be no more
Police brutality
No more disrespect
For humanity
Legalize marijuana
Down here in Jamaica
It can build up your failing economy
Eliminate the slavish mentality
There’ll be no more
Illegal humiliation
And no more police
Interrogation
Legalize marijuana
Down here in sweet Jamaica
Only cure for…
asthma
I’m another Minister(of the Herb)
So there’ll be no more
Police brutality
No more disrespect
For humanity
Legalize marijuana
Down here in Jamaica
It can build up your failing economy
Eliminate the slavish mentality
There’ll be no more
Illegal humiliation
And no more police
Interrogation
Legalize marijuana
Down here in sweet Jamaica
Only cure for glaucoma
I’m another Bush Doctor
So there be
No more need to smoke and hide
When you know you’re takin’
Illegal ride
Legalize marijuana
Down here in Jamaica
It the only cure for glaucoma
I’m another Minister
In a Christian Nation? Why? Desperation after depleting our coffers. This will lead to a lot of drug trafficking by our so called leaders who must lead in everything just like the trafficking scandal.
Marijuana grows well in just about every place on this planet. Where it’s too cold, they grow it in greenhouses. Anyone fantasizing about making millions from selling the herb is going to encounter a very competitive market with accompanying razor-thin margins. The buyer or buyers will therefore be choosy. Add to that Zambia’s toxic business environment of high interest rates, corruption all sorts of taxes on business and u hv a nightmare scenario.
Where is Peter Sunkamba Green Party?
He is our next president, exporting marijuana, Zambia the biggest exporter of marijuana. Zambia will be the richest country in Africa.
Ati “ …cultivation for export and medicinal use…”. Will it all be exported and reimported as medicine, or some of it will be processed LOCALLY for medicinal use?
hopefully the whole plant will be used as moneymaking. such as the stalk could go to clothes
Hi, everybody can get high……
THIS IS GOOD BUT THE MINISTER SHOULD GIVE GUIDE LINES TO THE FARMERS ,WERE TO GET THE SEED ETC.LET THEM NOT KEEP QUITE BUT MIND YOU IT WILL BE CONFUSION EVERY WERE BECAUSE THE RESULTS OF MARIJUANA ARE BAD NO WONDER ALL THE FORMER HEADS OF STATE DID NOT SCAM TO MARIJUANA GROWING.
Legalization is not enough. What is needed is a strong policy to will protect local farmers from being run over by foreign multinationals who have the desire to dominate the global market. It is only when cultivation and export is largely in the hands of Zambian farmers and agricultural organs that this industry can significantly contribute to boosting the country’s economy.
Which local farmer is going to afford $250K licence only thieves like Bowman & Tasila and foreign firms will afford it
Which is why the locals need incentives from the government. The high priced licence should only apply for foreign investors.
Chamba from Chambia. Ba religious Minister, is this Christianity?
Remember the crook Dr Chilufya stated last year that the govt was looking into it and no one has come out stated what the findings were or produced a report. They just send Dora to state that Cabinet agreed so and so, these people are in the wrong jobs they should be in the fish market.
Did I read this correctly – “for the cultivation, processing and exporting of cannabis for ECONOMIC and medicinal purposes”. That’s the problem with hypocrisy and religion you always want to hide behind words; exporting cannabis for medicinal purposes is one thing as they use a different plant species but for economical purposes that another thing all together you need to clarify. We need lawyers to look into this as you can not trust these slippery crooks. Tomorrow they were preaching about morality in corrupt UCZ church in Choma today its another thing. I bet you Dr Chilufya and his Indian friends have already formed companies and already started harvesting. I understand the licences for this is even higher than a McDonald’s or KFC franchise.
Th3 Green Party has scored big time. Mr. Sinkamba should telling more about it. Perhaps his idea was swindled by GRZ.
Abel Kabalo should be FIRED!
$250k should only apply to Foreigners
Contradictory govt. statements as usual. One is on a ganja hangover while the other one has just smoked it
Zambians will be officially smoking chamba.These benefits also come with
Its problems as well.Why has the world
Not approved this cannabis growing apart from few countries.
We can be pacesetters also not always following the world
Well go a step further then to free the peasant farmers who were imprisoned for caltivating this crop, they seem to have been way ahead in their vision.
We are a Christian nation. Far better to allow sustainable Makula trade from forest farms for economic purpose than allow this destructive product.
The negative social impact are high for a country where alcoholism is number one killer. Poverty leads to addictions as people seek an emotional release. This is not a good move. It’s a weed which grows in every country, the reality of stiff international competition means very little GDP will be realised.
I don’t get this. Coming to elections, we give violent people drugs to blow their mind. WHAT THE HECK IS THIS ABOUT!? Is this Fake News?
Maybe Opium is the new religion of the people after all. Or is the govt hoping to hook people for tax purposes? Fact is people will just grow it in their Calabash gourds at the bottom of their garden! How are you going to get money from this? You can’t contain this and GANGS will be around every corner. PF running out of ideas…….
Patriot, your analysis on ulunbange is misguided.
You will never find people fighting because they are high.
You will never find husbands beating up wives and kids because they are high.
You are mistaking the herb for alcohol.
The only problem in Zambia is that Mr. Lungu and his corrupt friends will be the main beneficiaries of this trade.
Only cure for asthma
I’m another Minister(of the Herb)
So there’ll be no more
Police brutality
No more disrespect
For humanity
Legalize marijuana
Down here in Jamaica
It can build up your failing economy
Eliminate the slavish mentality
There’ll be no more
Illegal humiliation
And no more police
Interrogation
Legalize marijuana
Down here in sweet Jamaica
Only cure for glaucoma
I’m another Bush Doctor
So there be
No more need to smoke and hide
When you know you’re takin’
Illegal ride
Legalize marijuana
Down here in Jamaica
It the only cure for glaucoma
I’m another Minister
Legalize it
Don’t criticize it
Legalize it, yeah yeah
And I will advertise it
Some call it tamjee
Some call it the weed
Some call it marijuana
Some of them call it ganja
Never mind, got to legalize it
And don’t criticize it
Legalize it, yeah yeah
And I will advertise it
Singers smoke it,
And players of instrument, too
Legalize it, yeah yeah
That’s the best thing you can do
Doctors smoke it
Nurses smoke it
Judges smoke it
Even lawyer, too
So you’ve got to legalize it
And it don’t criticize it
Legalize it, yeah yeah
And I will advertise it
It’s good for the flu
Good for asthma
Good for tuberculosis
Even numara thrombosis
Go to legalize it
Don’t criticize…
What policy guidelines and legal framework iwe Dollar, which one of respects the laws of Zambia? Just a simple one like ministers paying back illegal salaries has been turned into a huge debate to show the judiciary who you are!!
People me I don’t follow, does it mean farmers in rural areas who have been hiding can now flaunt their yields openly, and they too can start selling this product freely???? Can people smoke freely for medicinal purposes… And how’s the GRZ/DEC going to know if one is doing it for medicinal purpose???? Or this only applies to the elite with 250K Dollars…. Please let things be clear for all!
That’s a weird thought when sinkala i don’t know if it’s sinkamba was preaching about this Idea he looked like he was not sane to people and the Government because he was talking about something which was taboo to our nation.Now today the Government which has stipulated the law in black and white to say no to drugs and in particular marijuana is saying yes then what does that entail.pipo there alot of cash crops that if properly managed can shift our economy and not the cannabis.were have we taken our
values and morals.And moreover certain things should not be done abruptly because this also is a constitutional matter has the church and as a people been consulted.
Tell us that you going to free that girl you slapped with a 10 year sentence for smoking a joint including all those behind bars for carrying a few balls in their pockets. You need to turn yourselves in for contributing to the effects of global warming by chopping tonnes of Mukula trees.
Babe, it is time to make money. Vyamba bavomeleza kulima na kugulisa kumaziko yamene yakonda kubema.
We are Christian’s so we should not smoke it. Instead we should sell so that others can smoke.
It can be grown in almost every parts of the world but still illegal in as many countries and that’s just the more reason why Zambia has to move fast and cash in before others. One would just wonder why we even fight some of these losing battles… GMOs, gayism…even when from some simple objective lens one can see that it’s not long before the actual fall
They hae sold mukula tree and pocketed the money .Now they want to legalise growing Marijuana for their benefit .These are the people who call HH all sorts of things and now want to start growing ifyamba .How are they going to regulate this business if they cannot regulate the export and marketing of the Mukula trees .
They have sold mukula tree and pocketed the money .Now they want to legalise growing Marijuana for their benefit .These are the people who call HH all sorts of things and now want to start growing ifyamba .How are they going to regulate this business if they cannot regulate the export and marketing of the Mukula trees .
Legalize and bring peace pamo nendalama