Government has suspended the export of maize and maize products until the status of the food security within the country has been verified, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Robert Sichinga has said.

Mr Sichinga announced ban yesterday and said that all export permits issued by the Ministry of Agriculture for maize and maize products including mealie meal have been revoked with immediate effect.

Mr Sichinga said investigation conducted within the Ministry and by the Police had indicated that there were weaknesses and questionable procedures being practiced in the Ministry over the issuance of export licenses.

“Following a number of concerns on the national food security situation that have been raised by various stakeholders, I wish to announce that it is clear from the investigations carried out so far by police and within my Ministry that there are weaknesses and questionable procedures being practiced in this Ministry over issuance of export licenses, arising from the forgoing, I have decided to suspend export of maize and maize products with immediate effect” he said.

[pullquote]Mr Sichinga assured that Government to Government exports to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Tanzania and Zimbabwe would not be affected by the ban.[/pullquote]

He said further investigation had been instituted to get to the root cause and warned that any officer who would be found wanting will be dealt with according to the findings on the offence committed.

Mr Sichinga however said traders who have already loaded trucks in readiness for export will be allowed to complete their transaction upon verification by officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

Mr Sichinga assured that Government to Government exports to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Tanzania and Zimbabwe would not be affected by the ban.

Government has described as baseless claims by United Party for National Development (UPND) leader, Hakainde Hichilema, in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that the Patriotic Front has created a dictatorship government.

Information and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister, Mwansa Kapeya, says government has demonstrated its commitment to good governance and the rule of law which he said the opposition leader should be honest enough to admit instead of accusing it of bad governance and dictatorship.

The Minister noted that in a dictatorship government, Mr Hichilema would not be given media coverage or be in the limelight as he is enjoying on a daily basis.

Mr Kapeya said the UPND leader’s baseless outburst against government is as a result of the shrinking political fortune and the humiliating defeat his party has suffered in the recently held parliamentary by-elections in Livingstone and Mpongwe at the hands of the ruling PF.

“Which dictatorship is Mr Hichilema talking about that allows him to go and hold a press conference on a foreign soil (South Africa) to castigate his country and still get away with it as he did recently with other opposition leaders,” Mr Kapeya wondered.

Mr Kapeya further noted that contrary to the attacks, Mr Hichilema has exhibited high levels of political intolerance and dictatorship by dictating to his Members of Parliament not to work with the PF government at the expense of national development.
The Minister advised the UPND leader to desist from using government as a scapegoat each time he is in trouble with the law.

He said government promised a people-driven constitution which he said is underway while the free and independent media which his government promised is already in place.

He said with the creation of a new province and new districts around the country to bridge the flow of development to the people, the decentralisation of power to the people which the PF government is gaining momentum is being achieved.

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Finance Deputy Minister Miles Sampa says government will continue contracting foreign loans because it is in a hurry to develop.

Mr. Sampa assured that the country’s debt sustainability position is very healthy to warrant further borrowing.

“We are sitting around 30 percent of GDP ratio and we would be comfortable to increase that to around 45 percent of GDP and we would be going back to the international market as soon as all arrangements are put in place,” Mr. Sampa said.

He said the US$ 750 million Eurobond was so successful that it has given government the impetus to go back to the market and borrow additional funds.

“Our debut issuance was very successful, remember it was oversubscribed and we believe the interest in Zambia among the foreign investors is still high and we want to cash in on that,” Mr. Sampa said.

“We should not be scared to borrow as long as we are able to pay back.”

He said government wants to ramp up investments in key infrastructure developments such as roads, rail and energy hence the need to borrow more.

“We have said no to increasing taxes for our people because we are a caring government.

So taxes won’t go up and our only choice is borrowing from the market. There is no country that does not borrow, the USA, Japan, name them, they all borrow to develop but what is important is paying back.”

Mr. Sampa reiterated that the entire US$ 750 million Eurobond has been exhausted.

“Yes the money is finished because we dispensed it to spending agencies and we have done well on that’s score.”

He said, “Zambia Railways received $120,000,000 while Development Bank of Zambia received US$ 50,000 with the UTH getting $30,000 towards the rehabilitation of the country’s largest hospital.

“Everybody has been complaining about the state of UTH and we saw it prudent to spent US$ 30,000 on rehabilitations there in order for the hospital to serve our people better.”

The Finance Deputy Minister disclosed that the largest chunk of the Eurobond went to ZESCO for its equity in the Kafue Lower Power Station and other ongoing power projects.

Vice President, Guy Scott has disclosed that his office under the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) has in excess of 700,000 tonnes of maize meant for relief.

And Dr Scott has revealed that government, through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), will this year buy maize from farmers on cash basis and not on credit as it has done in the past.

Dr Scot said his office and the DMMU are ready to provide relief for people in areas across the country that will experience hunger this year.

The Vice President said this in Kapiri Mposhi today when he addressed a campaign rally at Chankomo Basic School grounds to drum up support for Patriotic Front (PF) candidate in the April 23 Kapiri Mposhi Constituency by-election.

But Dr Scott said this time around the government will be more careful in handling relief maize.

He said his office will carry out an assessment to ensure that only the targeted and affected people benefit from the relief maize.

The Vice President warned that government will not condone people to sell relief maize once they benefit from it.

“We have 700,000 tonnes of maize stocks to give to those who will experience hunger in the country but we shall be more careful this time around so that we do not give this maize to people who will later resale because government is spending a lot of money on this maize,” Dr Scott said.

And Dr Scott has revealed that government, through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), will this year buy maize from farmers on a cash basis and not on credit as it has done in the past.

The Vice President said the government has adequately prepared to buy maize from farmers on cash basis this year and in the following crop marketing seasons.

“We want to be buying your maize on cash basis so that we allow you to prepare for next farming season activities and not waste your time chasing payments,” Dr Scott said.
Meanwhile, Dr Scott has encouraged people in Kapiri Mposhi district and Central Province as a whole to take advantage of the good rainfall pattern in the area to produce food.

Dr Scott said the area receives normal and sufficient rainfall annually for people to engage in agricultural activities to ensure food security at household and national levels.

“Kapiri Mposhi receives well over 1000 millimetres of rains per year …. this is good rains that even if there is a drought here you can still produce crops. It is not like some areas in Southern Province”, Dr Scot said.

He said the government will also ensure timely distribution of farming inputs to farmers under the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP).

He advised farmers to belong to registered cooperatives for them to benefit from FISP.

Dr Scott is in Kapiri Mposhi where he is holding a series of rallies to campaign for PF candidate, Eddie Musonda in the fourth coming by-elections.

The opposition UNIP and UPND have fielded Francis Mwape and Lawrence Zimba respectively.

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