….as UPND announces the importation of Yellow and White Maize for one Year….
April 22, 2024
The United Party for National Development (UPND) government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, announced plans to commence the importation of yellow and white maize into the country from April 2024 to April 2025.
In a statement issued by Minister of Agriculture, Reuben Mtolo Phiri, it was declared that the UPND government would be importing these grains for both human and industrial consumption.
“The Ministry of Agriculture wishes to inform the nation that authority has been granted to import white and yellow non-genetically modified maize grain for both human and industrial consumption for the period April 2024 to April 2025.”
This decision has raised eyebrows, particularly in light of recent assertions from some government officials suggesting that Zambia had sufficient grain reserves to meet domestic demand, despite acknowledging a shortfall which necessitated the declaration of the drought situation in the country.
However, this decision contrasts with statements made by then-opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema on January 25, 2016.
At that time, President Hichilema criticized the Patriotic Front (PF) government for importing maize in response to a drought situation in the country.
President Hichilema then stated that “It was absurd of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government to allow the export of maize to neighboring countries and later be forced to import it back.”
“There is nothing global about making foolish decisions. This is criminal negligence. One cannot put the lives of so many people at risk and not be accountable. We therefore demand that the authorities immediately bring all those involved in this maize export scandal to book. The absurdity of blaming all their shortcomings on global trends should stop. What global factors influenced the PF Government to export maize at the expense of its own citizens?”
It’s indeed Nalumangonomics exporting inorder to import back.
