The state has forfeited some of the maize which was recently impounded by Zambia National Service (ZNS) officers at Chanda Weyaya TAZARA Railway Station in Northern Province.
Provincial Permanent Secretary, Hlobotha Nkunika, announced forfeiture at Kasama’s TAZARA station where he addressed owners of the maize in question yesterday.
Mr Nkunika, however, explained that the decision has only affected those who had more than 50 bags of maize.
Meanwhile, the PS said government has also forgiven all those who had less than 50 bags but that they will only be allowed to sell their commodity to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) at Kasama’s TAZARA station where the maize is being kept.
The PS said the decision was arrived at after holding various consultative meetings with government authorities at different levels.
Mr Nkunika further cautioned the general public to desist from exporting or transporting the country’s staple food without proper documents.
Last week, the alert ZNS officers intercepted and impounded over 200 metric tonnes of maize at Chanda Weyaya which was about to be smuggled to neighboring countries on a TAZARA goods train which was destined for Nakonde border.
However, maize owners admitted having gone against government’s regulations and pleaded for forgiveness by proposing that their maize be sold to FRA than forfeiting it completely.
Way to go. Allow only when we are food secure
HH is the only one who can take agriculture to its fullest potential. Agriculture is one of the ways zambia must diversify and not rely on copper.