Mon, 25 Sep 2017 13:55:43 +0000
By Mukosela Kasalwe
THE ban of raw maize exports is not the solution as the only market currently Zambia has for finished products is DR Congo which is not enough, says Grain Traders Association of Zambia (GTAZ) executive director Chambulani Simwinga.
Mr Simwinga said to the contrary, the answer lay in opening up of more borders for export of finished products.
Mr Simwinga said already there was a saturation of maize in Zambia and that calls for a ban for raw maize exports by the Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers (ZUFIAW) were ill-timed especially that agriculture unions were lobbying President Edgar Lungu to relook at the maize price of K60 for a 50-kilogramme bag.
He said the only available market which imported finished maize products was DR Congo in particular, Lubumbashi which equally got the commodity from South Africa.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Simwinga said he had been in the agriculture sector for many years and that stakeholders such as the GTAZ played a key role in managing the maize market.
He argued that the ban of raw maize exports was not a solution but the opening up of more borders for trade activities.
“At the moment the only market which is importing finished maize products is the Congo DRC and Lubumbashi in particular which is also getting the commodity from South Africa so if you ban the exports then what do we do with the maize? Already we are crying with the maize price of K60. The solution is to open up the borders for trade,” he said.
Mr Simwinga said the ban of export of raw maize would have a negative implication on Zambia and leverage the South African market.
On Saturday, ZUFIAW called for a ban of raw maize exports but maximise on the export of finished products for more forex earning.
