SIAVONGA DC WARNS AGAINST MEALIE MEAL SMUGGLING
SIAVONGA District Commissioner, Geoffrey Jakopo, has warned traders in the area not to engage in Mealie meal smuggling.
Mr Jakopo, has also warned the traders that the law will deal with whoever will be caught in the smuggling of Mealie meal adding that the government is trying by all means to protect the sector hence intervening through the supply of cheaper commodity.
He called on the traders not to exaggerate the prices of the commodity and ensure that the right thing is followed.
ZANIS reports that Mr Jakopo, reiterated the need for stakeholders to work together in order to curb smuggling so as to stabilize the availability of the commodity on market in the area.
He said the government has put in place various interventions to curb the rampant mealie meal smuggling such as registering all traders in the district.
Mr Jakopo added that with the rise of mealie meal traders, it calls for more surveillance and monitoring to ensure that ordinary Zambians access the commodity at a cheaper price and are not exploited due to smuggling which is causing the shortage.
He called on the security wings and the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), to ensure strict surveillance and monitoring especially on water bodies and other points that are hot spots for smuggling.
" We shall not allow this thing to continue happening in this district, this mealie meal is meant for Siavonga residents and not other countries, please let us all ensure that this vice is curtailed and curbed, as a government we shall not tolerate this practice, " he stated.
And speaking earlier, mealie meal traders in the area explained how challenging it has been on their part to transport the commodity to the district from Lusaka and other places with the restrictions at the check point mounted by the Zambia National Service (ZNS).
A representative of the traders, Derrick Hajila, disclosed how the situation has affected the business for them.
He called on the government to expedite the process of capturing mealie meal traders to ensure that transportation clearance at the checkpoint is done without difficulties.