Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Minister of Agriculture Michael Katambo has justified the cost attached to security measures that government has put in place in curbing smuggling of maize.
Government has deployed Zambia National Service and Police officers to various parts of the Country to man road blocks that have been set up to curb the smuggling of maize.
Mr. Katambo has told parliament that it is better to spend money on ensuring the country is food secure than incurring the cost that allowing smuggling will bring about.
He adds that the measure to curb smuggling of maize is covering all parts of the country.
The Minister says apart from smuggling, there is also force declaration of the commodity and its destination, hence the move by the two security wings to escort the transporters of the commodity up to their destination.
Mr. Katambo was responding to a question by Choma Central Member of Parliament Cornelius Mweetwa who wanted to know why the road blocks are being conducted and if the measure had not contributed to the cost of the commodity.