‘Let cannabis benefit Zambians’
It’s a very welcome decision. But the proposed license fee is too high and no Zambian would be able to participate in the business. Without the participation of locals, the whole exercise will just be a white elephant and will not give us the intended results,”
ORDINARY Zambians must be allowed to benefit from the cultivation and production of Marijuana, Green Party president Perter Sinkamba has demanded
This follows Government’s decision to approve the cultivation, processing and exporting of cannabis for economic and medicinal purposes.
Mr Sinkamba said it was unfair that foreign investors were the only ones benefiting from the resources the country was endowed with.
He said the cannabis business must be affordable to Zambians.
Mr Sinkamba also expressed concern at reports that Government had agreed that companies wishing to trade in the commodity would be charged US$250,000 annual licence fees. He said that in as much as the approval was welcome and progressive, the US$250, 000 licence fee was too high.
Mr Sinkamba said in an interview that such a high fee would sideline Zambians from participating in the business who were supposed to be empowered from such ventures.
“Without the participation of locals, the marijuana business will be a white elephant and will not serve the purpose for which it was sought,” he said.
He said many Zambians were demanding the legalisation of Marijuana so that citizens could be empowered and help grow the country’s economy.
Mr Sinkamba said there was need to come up with a viable policy that would manage marijuana production if indeed Government had legalised the crop.
“It’s a very welcome decision if indeed true.
But the proposed license fee is too high and no Zambian would be able to participate in the business.
Without the participation of locals, the whole exercise will just be a white elephant and will not give us the intended results,” he said.
Mr Sinkamba said without the participation of locals, most of the profits would be sent to offshore accounts.
Chief Government spokesperson, Dora Siliya confirmed that Cabinet at its 22nd special sitting held on December, 4 2019 gave approval in principle, to the Ministerial Technical Committee for the cultivation, processing and exporting of cannabis for economic and medicinal purposes.
Ms Siliya said in a statement Cabinet had directed the Ministry of Health to ensure that applicable policy guidelines and procedures were followed as well as ensure the implementation was within the existing policy guidelines and overall legal framework in consultation with any relevant Ministries and other relevant stakeholders.