Sat, 01 Jul 2017 12:07:08 +0000
By MUKOSELA KASALWE
THE Zambia National Service have recovered over 7,000 bags of maize grain and other maize products in the anti-smuggling operation it has been carrying out in some parts of the country, says Minister of Defence Davis Chama.
Mr. Chama said since the deployment of ZNS troops in the anti-smuggling operation in March last year, aimed at ensuring security of the country’s staple food, it had yielded a positive outcome.
He told Parliament that the confiscated commodities were forfeited to the State and disposed of by the courts of law which included 7, 534 by 25 kg bags of mealie meal and maize. The minister said the directive by President Edgar Lungu for ZNS officers to monitor the movement of maize and its products led to the availability of mealie meal on the market, stabilised mealie meal prices and improved food security.
“The confiscated commodities were forfeited to the State and disposed of by the courts of law. The anti-smuggling operation led to the availability of mealie meal on the market, stabilised mealie meal prices and improved food security,” he said.
Mr. Chama said despite the achievements scored, ZNS officers encountered challenges such as shortage of adequate manpower to man the long porous borders around the country. He said lack of legislation to enable ZNS to dispose of cases quickly and inadequate laws to deal with the forfeiture of vehicles resulted in the same vehicles being repeatedly used for smuggling.
Mr. Chama said following the bumper harvest that the country has recorded ZNS officers were withdrawn from all operation areas.
He said in some areas soldiers were still on hand to guard vehicles which were used for smuggling.
