April 19, 2013

Zambia suspends export of corn and corn products

Zambia has suspended the export of corn and its products until the status of the food security within the country has been verified.

This is according to Zambian Agriculture and Livestock Minister Robert Sichinga.

Sichinga announced the ban Friday (Apr 5), saying all export permits issued by the Ministry of Agriculture for corn and its products including mealie-meal had been revoked with immediate effect.

Sichinga said investigations conducted within the ministry and by the police had indicated that there were weaknesses and questionable procedures being practised in the ministry over the issuance of export licences.

"Following a number of concerns on the national food security situation that had been raised by various stakeholders, I wish to announce that it is clear from the investigations carried out so far by police and within my ministry that there are weaknesses and questionable procedures being practised in this ministry over issuance of export licences, and arising from the foregoing, I have decided to suspend export of corn and corn products with immediate effect," he said.

He said further investigations had been instituted to get to the root cause and warned that any officer found wanting would be dealt with according to the findings on the offence committed.

Sichinga, however, said traders who had already loaded trucks in readiness for export would be allowed to complete their transactions upon verification by officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

He also assured that government-to-government exports to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Tanzania and Zimbabwe would not be affected by the ban.