Thursday, March 28, 2024

President Hichilema confers with Millers Association of Zambia

Share

President Hakainde Hichilema has pledged the government’s commitment to working together with the Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) to ensure that the cost of doing business in the industry is lowered.

And President Hichilema indicated during a meeting with the Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) at State House in Lusaka that corruption is a cost to the milling business though sometimes taxes may also be a contributing factor.

He said there is need to create an attractive environment for doing business by getting the environment right through consultative processes such as the meeting held yesterday.

The President added that the environment for doing business should also be stable and consistent.

He said it is important that government and MAZ work together to regain the market that has been lost due to the ban of exports.

“We want your capacity to be utilised, work with us to assess the market,” the President said.

The President said that among its administration’s primary core is to put policies that will enable millers in the country to meet the country’s consumption requirement every year.

He further emphasised on the need to deal with issues of open market to export without affecting the national food security.

“We don’t want to ban exports but we need to assure food security amidst exports, so let’s work together,” the President indicated.

And the Head of State has also urged the Millers to be able to buy raw materials from the available market without waiting for the Food Reserve Agency to offload it to them.

“Maintain the relationship and business you have with FRA but when you find other available market for raw materials go ahead and buy,” he advised.

President Hichilema said he will soon visit the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where he is expected to have more discussions concerning the available market to that country.

The President also disclosed that he will on November 20th, 2021 confer with his Botswana Counterpart where they will hold discussions on market for stock feed.

He has since challenged the millers to also use their capacity to produce stock feed and take advantage of the market that will be created in the neighbouring country.

“We will access the market but you must manufacture. Use part of your capacity to produce stock feed,” he said.

Meanwhile, Millers Association of Zambia President, Andrew Chintala assured President Hichilema of his Association’s commitment to work with government in improving the business for the industry.

Mr Chintala also commended the Head of State and his administration for allowing exports of mealie meal and maize saying the move was unprecedented.

He added that the country has already started experiencing the benefits of banning the export of maize and mealie meal.

“We lost market share in DRC as a result of untimely export ban at an expense of food security,’ he said.

Mr Chintala noted that it was unfortunate that fears around exports were based on national food security which largely impacted negatively on the business as most traders closed back completely and have not returned.

20 COMMENTS

  1. Welcome to reality…. going around circles…. only way mealie meal prices can come down is for goverment to subsidize the Millers….. where’s that money going to come from?

    7
    7
  2. @ Deja Vu: since the time u joined Lusaka times, what positive thing have u ever said abt HH or UPND? Nothing! So u are clearly part of a the clique the president spoke of. You are a direct beneficiary”a thief” of the PF loot. Unabba mambala iwe, bring back what u stole and shut up.

    10
    8
  3. You are slowly becoming the new Kaizer Zulu here . And by next year I ll stop commenting cos u ll be in jail, cases are following u guys slowly. And law will catch up with u. You can vomit all u want , atleast for now.

    6
    6
  4. #2 and 3 What positive things you want me to say…is it by force? Keep on praising him and I won’t stop you. I comment as I see things. Like here he is blaming Corruption How does Corruption affect the price of ubunga when these millers are camped here in lufwanyama buying maize directly from us at their price. Continue to shower praises it’s your right but respect my opinion too. Chakukalipa shani

    8
    6
  5. After announcing the budget and been praised by the higher commission from UK to Zambia few days later you going to come up with a comments like these? completely surpassing my understanding. I’m confused.

    “United Kingdom (UK) High Commissioner to Zambia Nicholas Woolley has hailed the United Party for National Development (UPND) government for what he terms as satisfying 2022 National budget.”-LT

    The choice of words from UK high commissioner to Zambia needs reflection, his accountable to United Kingdom taxpayers it’s not time to play politics with Taxpayers in both countries.

    “Elon Musk Challenges UN to Prove $6 Billion Can ‘End World Hunger’ and He’ll Pay”

    4
    1
  6. It is not announcements and pronouncements that makes things work; it is pragmatic application and de-escalating terminology. Remember potential exporters are called smugglers as they try to skip loopholes and hoops. As soon as you demystify these things you discover you didn’t need heavy handedness in the first place. We support this engagement by the government and millers. Let’s continue raising the bar.

    3
    1
  7. On this blog some bloggers don’t know why they are here and they are disappointed because their expectations cannot be found here .
    This social media in itself is here to help the people in politics to do a good job this now includes those who are not partisan to balance up the equation, we are not here to support any single politician but to engage ideas in the minds of thinkers and doers of what people want in general.
    We are not supporting any one because we are not partisan and we don’t hate anyone we are just free thinkers who want good things to come out to help Zambians live well.

    9
    1
  8. Its laughable that one can even have the audacity to mention the previous regime when under that corrupt President only PF crooks were informed in advance before the export ban was temporarily lifted for a month so they lined their pockets then swiftly enforced again. Only someone who has not bothered to read the article would criticise since when did Lazy Lungu ever go to DRC or Botswana for specific trade talks…he only went there under the radar with Findlay and Zingiman for his personal deals. HH7 has just told you he will be visiting his DRC and Botswanan counterparts for trade talks…Lazy Lungu only went to Botswana to play with his girlfriends in hide outs.

    5
    3
  9. Deja Vu – You are hallucinating again …you seem to be blinded with something when you see a photo of HH7 that clouds you judgement, here we have potentially two million dollar or billion dollar market about to be tapped and you are mourning about subsidises…really laughable. Do you know that govt will maximise its revenue from such markets in terms of forex coming in, job creation from the Private sector. Do you know how much tomatoes cost in Angola and DRC…If I was in Zambia I would be definitely in this business…you have to pull up your socks my friend.

    7
    3
  10. And 5 years will just be wasted like this….expect alot to explaining and talk with nothing to show…..blah blah blah blah for almost 4 months now…..just point at one feeder road that you’ve maintained since you took office….nothing…zero…palibe…..ubufi fulu fulu…have you bought any medicine for just one hospital since you took office…nada

    8
    9
  11. #11 Ba Tarino just sit down ( bika akasanga mulinso) . You are theorizing. You think all previous presidents have gone on that road before? We have had so many joint commissions with Congo Kinshasa, Zaire and now DRC…. Congolese like unorthodox way of doing business. By the way why is Chintala behaving like a spoiled child when even the past he’s been invited to State House many times before. I wish you the the best.

    4
    7
  12. That’s why we say HEHH is the man to do the job………

    A hands on president……….

    IF HEHH continues on this hands on none confrontational approach with engagements with stakeholders to fix problems affecting zambia, ………

    I see HEHH winning the Ibrahim prize on presidential good governance…..

    The Ibrahim prize is $5 million dollars paid over 10 years , plus a presidential pension…….

    Enough to live happily ever after…..

    Why would one need to steal or engage in corruption or violence as president ????

    7
    3
  13. Deja Vu – There is no need for name calling when someone calls out …you calm yourself down…leave that to the impostor who lacks the faculties to contribute anything to the site. Now to your response; you tell me which Zambian President had the political will to go full out to tap in to the DRC or even the well connected Botswanan market? FTJ was interested in arms deals and diamonds in Angola…..Lazy Lungu was busy entertaining Kabila and cutting personal deals which didnt go down well with the new President.
    At times digest the information before rushing to comment like narcissists Saulosi…he is ever praying for doomsday!!

    6
    2
  14. “Congolese like unorthodox way of doing business”

    So why do you think HH7 is going all out? So official channels are opened up with DRC where both parties benefit…People are forming cooperatives to tap in this market you are here looking for flaws instead of opportunity …wake up!!!

    4
    3
  15. Saulosi – International trade is not like putting up a Katemba at the corner you need to sit down and iron out issues of tax and security…these are long term agreements with millions or maybe billions to our economy in the long term. Anyway you can not understand such things

    4
    3
  16. #15 Tarino Orange… you are by nature a suspicious person… I have not called you any names. If it’s that ciBemba proverb I added just ask anyone familiar with the language they will explain to you. I don’t use bad language against others.

    2
    1
  17. Deja Vu – I am not a gullible person is the right description you are looking for …I understand the language very well but if you are going to use any language be prepared to explain the meaning yourself especially on a public forum. You have a habit of hiding behind phrases when cornered.

    1
    2

Comments are closed.

Read more

Local News

Discover more from Lusaka Times-Zambia's Leading Online News Site - LusakaTimes.com

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading