Govt urged to lift mukula ban

CTPD Executive Director Isaac Mwaipopo

The Center for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) has called on government to lift the ban on the harvesting, transportation, trading and export of the Mukula tree species because it is not serving its intended purpose.

A report by the Center for International Forest Research (CIFOR) on Mukula production and trade has revealed that Zambia declared to have exported 3,000 cubic meters of Mukula logs valued at US$900,000 in 2016, while China declared Mukula imports from Zambia of about 61,000 cubic metres for an approximate value of US$ 87 million during the same period.

And the Financial Intelligence Center (FIC) in its latest financial trends report revealed that Zambia lost K4 million through illicit Mukula trade.

CTPD Executive Director, Isaac Mwaipopo says it is unfortunate that despite having the ban in place, some individuals have been trading in this specie something he says should worry every citizen.

Mr. Mwaipopo tells QTV News that there is need to urgently seal all the loopholes that some individuals are using to illegally export Mukula to countries like China.

Meanwhile, People’s Alliance for Change (PAC) President, Andyford Banda has told QTV News in a separate interview that the ban that was imposed on the harvesting and trading of Mukula was just one of the strategies for some individuals to amass wealth through illegal dealings.