SELL MUKULA LOGS’

ZAFFICO should partner with local Mukula dealers to mop up and sell the already harvested Mukula logs lying hidden in many places across the country, says Zambia Jubilee Coalition (ZJC).

ZJC Muchinga Province coordinator Jerome Kasongo said there were a lot Mukula logs that were harvested before the ban, lying in Isoka, Chinsali and Nakonde.

ZAFFICO should partner with local Mukula dealers to mop up and sell the already harvested Mukula logs lying hidden in many places across the country, says Zambia Jubilee Coalition (ZJC). ZJC Muchinga Province coordinator Jerome Kasongo said there were a lot Mukula logs that were harvested before the ban, lying in Isoka, Chinsali and Nakonde. Mr Kasongo said allowing dealers to sell the logs especially with the current state of economy due to Covid-19 will help the government and Mukula realise revenue. Mr Kasongo said Government should give an amnesty to Mukula dealers to allow mop up and sale the already harvested Mukula. "We are appealing to the government to give amnesty to Mukula dealers to allow them sell the already cut logs before they go to waste," he said. Mr Kasongo said Government should allow Mukula dealers to mop up the already cut logs in the bush and sell to Zaffico at a reasonable price so that they can return their investment. Mr Kasongo said in as much as the ban on illegal cutting and sale of Mukula is welcome, it was important for Government to allow for sale of already cut logs. He said allowing the sale of Mukula logs will bring revenue to Government through ZAFFICO if amnesty is granted to dealers, including those without licenses. "We appeal for an amnesty to local dealers to partner with ZAFFICO at a reasonable price so that we recover our money, "Mr Kasongo said. Mr Kasongo said some dealers duly acquired production and conveyance licenses at huge cost but have not yet retained their investment. Mr Kasongo said it is unfortunate that Mukula logs that are laying idle and just going to waste. "Muchinga has a lot of Mukula logs that are just going to waste when they can be sold and help government raise some revenue,"Mr Kasongo said. Mr Kasongo said government through ZAFFICO should a grace period to sell Mukula logs. Mr Kasongo said the Mukula logs laying in the bush could contribute to the national treasury if government can give dealers a three months amnesty to dealers to sell the Mukula. Mr Kasongo said government should also relook at the procedure of selling Mukula to Zaffico. He said the current process was too tedious and maybe costly to both ZAFFICO and the dealer.