President Edgar Lungu says government will introduce stiff measures to curb escalating levels of smuggling of maize and Mealie Meal in the country
President Lungu says it is unacceptable for people to continue smuggling the commodity for selfish gains.
He says government is currently holding meeting with stakeholders to find a lasting solution to acts of economic sabotage.
The Head of state was speaking to journalist at city airport shortly before departing to Chinsali this morning.
And Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila says police have intensified security patrols on most border posts to reduce the smuggling of maize and mealie meal.
Mr. Mwila says police are working hand in hand with the Zambia National Service to reduce the continuous smuggling of the commodity.
Government maize (Food Reserve Agency) is being smuggled out by a government transporter (Zambia Railways). Isn’t the problem somewhere in government?
Imagin.The problem starts and ends with government and am sure it is Pama Fi to blame.They have run out of sources of income to continue with their lavish lifestyles so they have found another way of making money.
Signs of serious incompetence and desperation from the LUNGU administration, more like fire fighting or crises management.
This the Lazy Bum Lungu administration of silly warnings/directives due to appalling leadership and myopic retrogressive policies.
…reacting when water has reached the neck level…where were these guys when water was at ankle, knee and waist level…’basensela elyo kawa…’…..exactly what happened to our electricity and the Kwacha…now maize…people tend to go on with their business as usual despite the effect of load shedding and depreciation of Kwacha…but not some thing to do with their belly…expect unpleasant reaction….good luck in your quest to stop the smuggling ‘tsunami’…
…the distraction is inevitable…the more the govt try to seal the loop holes….the more the buyers raise the purchase value…dangling more dollars …the more attracting it is to smugglers and the more sophisticated they become…its a vicious circle…
….free advice to ECL and his dunderheads ministers….you don’t fight smugglers, you go along or play their game…identify the market where smugglers take their maize and supply it yourselves(govt)…that’s how The Chilubas did in 1991 and within six month, the fight which UNIP struggled with for years came to an end…if Zimbabwe want 500 tonnes give them 400 and reserve 100 to neutralise smuggling…
..infact better to send finished product to safe guard employment and business in milling sector…
Just a few months ago the dull Lubinda was bragging that we have enough to export to neighbouring countries and are bringing in the much needed forex!!
Let Ministry of Commerce formulate the import and export trade policies for all products and services not maize alone. Giving this responsibility to BOZ or Ministry of Agriculture can not work because it is none of their business. Encourage people to produce more to meet the international and local demand just as Zambia Sugar has managed. It is the same farming for both maize and sugar although many people may not agree that sugar is a product of agriculture.
zambian lets not be cheated which ordinary citizen in a normal circumstance can have the gut to take FRA maize to zambia railways for export a goverment institution. this whole thing involves goverment officials. why did DC chipata block those people from talking he could have allowed them to speak then conclude. i stay near the zambia railways and neighbours who work there who confirmed that they were give told not to be checking certain things as long as the boss knows. so bwana DC chipata muletekanya. the president have already lifted a ban on one smuggler then what do you expect others to do. let every one be pardoned then since its the same offence.
This ***** why cant he just act unlike always making pronoucements very *****ic of a president be serious for once iwe ka wrungu ifimeno kwati ifimasembe.
This idi.ot of a president when is he going to be ever serious with national issues alway making pronouncement when is he going to start acting. Ifimeno kwati fimasembe.
Police should not work hand in hand with ZNS because most police officers would rather go away with a bribe than arrest the smuggler. Let ZNS handle this with full autonomy. In Sakania some police officers even had a standard fee of $200 to allow mealie meal to cross the borders.
YAH!! IT’S OUR POLICE- THEY ARE TOO CORRUPT. THEY DO NOT GET FIRED ONCE CAUGHT IN CORRUPTION SCANDALS. THE NUMBERS THEY HAVE ON THEIR UNIFORMS SHOULD BE TAKEN BY VICTIMS OF CORRUPTION OR OTHER OFFENSES COMMITTED BY OUR CORRUPT POLICE FORCE PERSONNEL FOR REPORTING THEM. PEOPLE MUST BE EDUCATED BY THE MEDIA ON HOW TO REPORT CORRUPT POLICE, ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND CIVIL SERVANTS. WE CAN’T HAVE A COUNTRY IN WHICH CORRUPTION IS CHAMPIONED BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND THE CIVIL SERVANTS. HERE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO CORRUPT A POLICE OFFICER BECAUSE EVERYONE IS EDUCATED ON REPORTING AND VERY ALERT.
MR PRESIDENT, THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY WARNINGS YOU HAVE MADE SO FAR. OFFENDERS SHOULDN’T BE WARNED. OFFENDERS SHOULD BE PROSECUTED AND POSSIBLY JAILED. MAYBE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS THAT THERE’S NO BASIS FOR LEGAL ACTION DUE TO LACK OF ENACTMENT IN PARLIAMENT REGARDING SMUGGLING. IF NOT PASS IT THROUGH PARLIAMENT AND HAVE LAWS ENACTED AGAINST SMUGGLING- ESPECIALLY THE SMUGGLING OF A POLITICAL STAPLE FOOD. PEOPLE WILL STOP TAKING YOU SERIOUSLY WITH YOUR WALK-THE-TALK. ANYWAY WE LOVE YOU BUT PROSECUTE THOSE CULPRITS.
Hon Lubinda my president HH was right talking about maize exports to BBC. But why were you so bitter.
Hon Lubinda my president HH was right talking about maize exports to BBC. But why were you so bitter.Now it shows PF means Proven Failures
Yeah! go on ECL, good move. Cage the embeciles, we need to tighten up all border points. Watch all forms of trucks and wargons both day and night.
Include those using BIYCLES TOO USING FOOTPATHS TO SMUGGLE MEAL-MEAL.
Hahahaha…..kikikiki….President Lungu, you won’t stop tickling me! On one hand you are threating those exporting maize to neighbouring countries, while on the other hand, you are pardoning one Lupando in Kasama for commuting a very similar crime. Does Amos Chanda and a host of your Advisors privy to what you intend doing or saing to your citizenry? It’s laughable. Just what is going on in your Government, Mr President?