THE Zambia National Service (ZNS) has been accused of impounding trucks laden with maize and are allegedly forcing the grain traders to sell their commodity to preferred milling companies in Lusaka.
About eight trucks laden with maize have so far been impounded and the grain traders are being forced to specifically sell their maize to APG milling which is offering a price much lower than the standard rate.
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The grain traders who had bought their maize from Mazabuka and Monze had their trucks impounded in Kafue by ZNS who are said to have ordered that the maize be sold to APG Milling when there were several other milling companies in Lusaka buying the commodity at a much higher rate.
According to complaints from one of the affected drivers, Salim Teddy Sanga, a ZNS officer Lt Col Nkweto was allegedly insisting them that all the eight trucks should offload the maize at APG Milling Company in Lusaka which was offering low prices of K4 per tonne.
But when contacted, Lt Col Nkweto refused to comment says he was only coordinating the operation and referred the matter to ZNS public relations department. Lt Col Nkweto said he has had discussions with the concerned grain traders but that the maize buyers were inpatient because according to him, the matter was being resolved.
And Col Mable Nyone, the ZNS public relations officer when contacted said she was going to call back but by press time, there had been no feedback from her.
Mr Sanga explained in an interview that ZNS had refused the drivers to sell their maize to other milling companies which were offering K4.8 per tonne. “We agreed with ZNS and they took my truck from Kafue up to APG Milling.
When I reached here, the price of APG milling was low as they want to buy the maize at K4 per tonne other milling companies are buying it at K4.8 per tonne,” Mr Sanga complained.Mr Sanga explained that he, and other drivers were ready to sell their maize in Lusaka but at a fair price and not the one which was being offered by APG milling company.
He stated that APG milling management had refused to increase the prices despite being requested by the affected individuals.
“I asked ZNS if I can go to the other milling companies with high price and a Colonel Nkwetu refused that they have instructions to sell to APG and not any other milling company. I agreed to sell my maize but the price of APG Milling is too little and the owner refused to increase the price
“I am going to sell my maize for a good price. I am ready to sell my maize. Now they want to take us back to Kafue. There are eight trucks here, all impounded from Kafue,” Mr Sanga said.
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