Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Agriculture Minister Given Lubinda
Agriculture Minister Given Lubinda has warned that government will not hesitate to take punitive action against any erring miller in the country.
Mr. Lubinda says people may have heard how government cancelled contracts of four millers who were cheating the system and that these millers have been blacklisted from participating in any Food Reserve Agency (FRA) transactions for the next two seasons.
He says government is on the lookout for anymore in view of the artificial shortage of mealie meal in some parts of the country.
He maintains that the country has enough maize stocks to take the nation to August and wonders there is an artificial shortage of mealie meal in the country.
The Agriculture Minister has also disclosed that he has written to all Provincial Ministers advising them to use their District Commissioners to conduct sporadic checks on prices and to report any Miller whose product is sold at higher than agreed prices.
Mr. Lubinda says there is no doubt that there are some millers and traders who, out of greed are selling mealie meal at higher prices than those provided for in the contracts entered with government.
Mr. Lubinda tells QFM News in a statement that the shortage and higher prices of maize in some neighboring countries is exerting pressure on some to export maize and mealie meal because of the existing lucrative market saying this is the reason why some people are smuggling.
And Mr. Lubinda has observed that several opposition leaders have used all sorts of media to peddle lies about the food security of the country saying people should join hands in stopping these unscrupulous alarmists.