LIBERALISE MAIZE EXPORT TO DRC’
GOVERNMENTshould consider liberalising the export of maize to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the North-western Chamber of Commerce, Trade and Industry has advised.
Chamber president, Mukumbi Kafuta, said maize export should be liberalised to the vast n eighbouring country where the commodity sold “like a hotcake.”
Mr Kafuta told the Daily Nation after the end of the two-day trade mission to
Lubumbashi that there would be increased revenue for the farmers and traders and also result in more job opportunities.
He explained that when the maize was exported legally, there would be revenue for both countries.
"That is the scenario that we are looking at. And we should remove fears that there will be a shortage of the commodity in Zambia if the export is liberalised," he said.
Mr Kafuta advised that Zambia should industrialise the agriculture sector in order to have surplus for export purposes.
"All what is needed is for Government to give good incentives to farmers so that they graduate from peasant farming to commercial," he said.
He said the chamber was ready sit on a round table with Government to give advice of how best the matter could be handled.
Mr Kafuta was hopeful that Zambia would become the
number one trading partner of the DRC due to its proximity.
In October last year, Zambia signed an agreement with the DRC to facilitate the export about 600,000 tonnes of maize and mealie meal.
The Memorandum of understanding, which was slated to start this year, was aimed at commercialising maize exports to the DRC.