By Staff Reporter
Former Defence minister Davies Chama has questioned the heartless and chaotic nature of the UPND leadership where a state security institution, ZNS, is now being used to export mealie meal meal, while ordinary citizens are grappling with the very high cost of the commodity.
And Defence force officials have questioned ZNS’s argument that the maize they are exporting is being imported from South Africa, wondering which “foolish business” in South Africa will not directly export the mealie meal when they are aware than another organisation in Zambia is buying their mealie meal for re-export at lucrative prices.
Speaking with Daily Revelation on the mealie meal ZNS is exporting despite having been brought in to ensure price stability and stem the chaotic shortages, Chama said he never experienced a situation where a security institution was involved in the trading of mealie meal with other countries.
He wondered what policy directive they are following, asking if that was a new policy in the UPND administration for a security agency to engage in trade.
“ZNS cannot be involved in importing mealie meal from South Africa and it’s not part of their mandate to engage in trade in terms of importing and exporting,” Chama said. “And if they are exporting the maize that is produced in Zambia which they are milling, that’s also very very unfortunate, considering the skyrocketing price of mealie meal. Those milling plants under ZNS were established for the sole purpose of intervening when the price is skyrocketing and people are cashing in in terms of they want to make a kill, in terms of profit. And that’s why those milling plants were established so that they can stabilise and protect the Zambian people from exploitation. It’s unfortunate if they are exporting.”
Chama continued: “How can ZNS be involved in importing and exporting? I mean it doesn’t add up my brother. It doesn’t add up.”
He said he could not exactly answer who it was they were selling the milling meal for outside the country, saying Defence minister Ambrose Lufuma and those in government will have to explain why ZNS has ventured on that course.
“I can’t justify it myself on what they are doing,” said Chama.
And Defence officials have said ZNS Commander Lieutenant General Maliti Solochi has a lot of explaining to do on the maize exported from Zambia.
“You have been challenging ZNS to produce documentation on where they have been importing the same mealie meal from South Africa and at what cost and also the returns from the same sell of imported mealie meal to Congo, but it has all been quiet,” one defence official said. “We hope the security institution is not being used as a fundraising venture for the ruling UPND, as the export of mealie meal right now is very lucrative. But at what cost to Zambians who are currently having to put up with the very high prices, with some now unable to even afford a 1kg bag because the price is just too steep?”
Agriculture minister Mtolo Phiri requested that he be sent the question on the matter three days ago but has not responded to the question.
Phiri was asked if the UPND administration has allowed ZNS to export mealie meal.
