Smuggling has reached alarming Albeit the ZNS and other security wings have been tasked to curb smuggling of maize and mealie meal at our borders with our neighboring countries, the scourge has now reached alarming levels to the extent that it is now affecting food security in the country. Shortages of the staple food and escalated prices especially in the border areas is the order of the day. The question why?
Well this in simple terms is an issue of demand and supply. 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. Congo DR ,Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana and Malawi are all looking at Zambia to feed their populations. Yes it is that bad.
Where as our mealie meal is selling at retail prices of between K170 to K200 per 25kg bag of breakfast meal, the same is fetching anything between K500 to about K800 just across our borders with Congo DR at Kasumbalesa. Yes it is that expensive.
Yes it is so lucrative! Little wonder then that all manner of smuggling is taking place. Bicycles, motorbikes, head carriage, small vehicles, taxis, small trucks, big trucks, containerized trucks, boats, canoes etc, name it and you have it, are being used as vehicles to transport the commodity to destinations across the borders.
Below are some of the vehicles ZNS and other security wings were able to impound. This scenario is happening everywhere on our long borders.
Although our strategic maize stocks held by FRA are enough to feed the country until the next harvest, they are certainly far from enough to feed the whole of our neighboring countries. As a result exports of maize and mealie meal from our subsidized FRA maize is naturally restricted. This is imperative if we are to avoid total shortage of mealie meal to feed ourselves. However because it is so lucrative people are willing to take risks, buy in small quantities, bulk and when enough smuggle across. This has inevitably led to long lines and depleting of the commodity within minutes of mealie meal laden 30 ton truck carrying 1200 x 25 kg bags of breakfast meal. Restricting quantities to each person is not working as people are willing to buy on behalf of each other.
This is not to say it is the small guys smuggling only. No! 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.
While the security forces are trying the best they can to curb this scourge, we would like to appeal to your better side as citizens and that is PATRIOTISM. Zambia is bigger than self! Zambia first before Self. Please desist from indulging in this trade and report those engaging in this scourge to our men and women in uniform.
We also want to inform those involved that once caught, both the maize and/or mealie meal and the Vehicle used for transportation shall be forfeited to the State. Don’t say you were not warned.
Just a little while and we shall be in the next harvest to beat any of this artificial shortages.
I WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY EASTER.! GOD BLESS YOU GOD BLESS ZAMBIA
Hon A. L. Lufuma
Defence Minister
Kabompo Constituency MP