DEFENCE Minister Ambrose Lufuma has tasked the Zambia National Service (ZNS) and other security wings to curb the rampant smuggling of mealie meal that has resulted into a critical shortage of the commodity, thereby forcing Government to resort to importing the staple food amidst claims of adequate stocks of maize.
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Mr Lufuma has said smuggling of mealie meal had reached alarming levels despite the ZNS and other security wings having been tasked to curb smuggling of maize and mealie meal at Zambia’s borders.
Mr Lufuma said Government is concerned that the scourge of smuggling of mealie meal had reached alarming levels to the extent that it was threatening food security in the country.
Mr Lufuma has complained that shortages of the staple food and escalated prices especially in the border areas had become the order of the day but is wondering why the security wings were failing to curb illegal exportation of mealie meal.
Mr Lufuma has attributed the shortage of mealie meal in the country to a deficit of maize being experienced by Zambia’s neighbouring countries in which mealie meal is the staple mfood.
“All our neighboring countries without exception are maize deficit areas and yet mealie meal is their staple food too. Climate change has played havoc on yields and production of maize in these countries. Kenya for instance is on the verge of starvation. They require in the region of 1 million tons of maize. Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana and Malawi are all looking at Zambia to feed their populations, Mr Lufuma said.
Mr Lufuma said whereas mealie meal was selling at retail prices of between K170 to K200 per 25kg bag of breakfast meal, the same was fetching between K500 to about K800 across borders with DRC at Kasumbalesa.
“Yes, it is so lucrative! Little wonder that all manner of smuggling is taking place. Bicycles, motorbikes, head carriage, small vehicles, taxis, small trucks, big trucks, containerized trucks, boats, canoes, name it and you have it, are being used as vehicles to transport the commodity to destinations across the borders,” Mr Lufuma said.
He said although governments strategic maize stocks held by FRA were enough to feed the country until the next harvest, the stocks were far from enough to feed the region.
Mr Lufuma however said because smuggling was such a lucrative business, people were willing to take risks, by buying in small quantities, bulk to smuggle to neighbouringf DRC.
“This is not to say it is the small guys smuggling only. The big guys are equally busy smuggling in huge quantities for that matter. There are cartels organized to ensure they export as much as they can to cash in on this lucrative trade,” Mr Lufuma said.
He said while the security forces were trying the best they could to curb this scourge, he said government appealed to citizens to stop smuggling.
Mr Lufuma warned those involved that once caught, both the maize/mealie meal and the Vehicle used for transportation shall be forfeited to the State.
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