GOVERNMENT’S decision to import mealie meal defies logic because it has failed to give valid reasons.
This is the more reason why some key stakeholders have expressed concern.
The Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) is baffled and disappointed. So is Chief Chooma of Choma who has questioned the logic of importing maize when the country has enough stock.
It clearly shows that decisions are being made without consulting key players like millers who produce mealie meal.
At the base of the confusion is the government’s failure to explain the country’s real position regarding the availability of maize.
It has failed to explain why certain regions have a crippling shortage of mealie meal as well as the astronomical high price of the staple food.
Government wants to blame the shortage on smugglers it says are taking maize and mealie meal to the neighbouring Congo DR.
In one breath, the nation is told that the country has enough maize in the national reserves with the Food Reserve Agency.
In the next breath, the government invites the private sector to start importing mealie meal and removes all import taxes.
This is quickly followed by a “clarification” that the mealie meal being imported is meant for exports to the Congo DR.
The nation is also schooled on the difference between banning/halting the export of mealie meal.
We feel the Millers Association has made a valid observation, warning that the government’s decision to allow for the importation of mealie meal will have a negative effect on local milling companies.
MAZ president Andrew Chintala has expressed disappointment with the government’s decision to issue a Statutory Instrument to remove duty on importation of mealie meal and maize in the country.
Appearing on Millennium TV’s The Business Day programme, Mr Chintala said they do not support the importation of mealie meal in the local market it will have a negative impact on locally produced products.
He said, it is unfortunate that the government could allow importation of mealie meal when it knows that this move will suffocate the local production. “We do not support the importation of the commodity on the local market.”
“Why should government go to the extent of issuing an SI on the importation of mealie meal on the local market? The commodity is being produced locally and the government should have found ways of supporting local producers to enhance production to meet the country’s demand,” Mr Chintala said.
Just how did the government arrive at this decision, knowing that importing mealie meal will have have serious implications on the local milling companies?
Chief Chooma has questioned the logic of importing maize when the country has enough stock.
As Chief Chooma observed, the country had enough maize stock from last year’s harvest and has expressed his surprise on the government’s decision to import.
According to Chief Chooma, Congo DR is the country which is supposed to import from South Africa as it has shortages of the commodity – not Zambia.
Government should come out clean on this botched policy decision which raises more questions than answers.
If anything, what hidden interests are at play in this whole scenario?
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