Govt admits favourable rainfall in northern Zambia, vows to curtail smuggling of grains across borders

Government says it has put in strict measures in the areas where the rains have been favourable to ensure that it protects the grains from being exported to the neighbouring countries.

These countries included Tanzania, Malawi and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Northern part of Zambia had received adequate to above normal rainfall and was expected to have normal yields from the crops planted during the farming season.

Muchinga Province Minister, Henry Sikazwe, told journalists at the weekend that government had come up with a taskforce on food security aimed at securing the grain from being smuggled out of the country.

Sikazwe said government would work in a multi sectoral approach to ensure that the grains were not lost to smugglers and have also engaged traditional leaders.

“The Tanzanians have in the past been clever where they have hiked the maize price by buying the entire fields from the farmers and that the government will be vigilante against such,” he said.

Meanwhile, Northern Province Minister, Leonard Mbawo, predicted a bumper harvest in the Northern area due to the favourable rainfall pattern.

Mbao had, however, reiterated government’s position to safeguard the expected harvest from briefcase buyers and had since heightened security around the border entry.

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