Zambia’s Socialist Party President, Fred M’membe, has accused the Hakainde Hichilema-led government of ignoring the advice to stop maize and mealie meal exports, leading to the current mealie meal shortages in the country. M’membe stated that the government’s argument that Zambia had more than enough maize stocks was flawed and failed to consider the role of government in driving maize production through input subsidies.
In a statement, M’membe stated that the government had tried to deny and conceal the mealie meal shortages but can no longer mask or pretend they don’t exist. He accused the government of asking the same businessmen they had given export permits to import mealie meal from the same countries they sold maize to, questioning the government’s economic management practices.
M’membe said that while the government appeared confident, it did not seem to know where it was headed. He urged the government to take measures to address the mealie meal shortages and improve its economic management practices.
GOVERNMENT’S CREDIBILITY QUESTIONED
In a separate statement, M’membe questioned the credibility of the Zambian government’s statements on the country’s economic situation. M’membe pointed out that the Minister of Finance had attributed the depreciation of the Kwacha to delayed debt restructuring, but the recent appreciation of the currency had not been explained adequately.
M’membe called on the government to clarify what measures it had put in place to sustain the appreciation of the Kwacha and lower the high cost of living. He urged the government to be transparent and accountable in its economic management practices to rebuild citizens’ confidence in its pronouncements.
M’membe also speculated that the government may have released large amounts of international reserves under panic to contribute to the appreciation of the Kwacha. He called on the Minister of Finance to explain the circumstances leading to the new development and enable citizens to plan better going forward.
The notice does not care about your size. Whether you are short, tall , fat or thin……You just buy one bag.
Maize scarcity results in mealie meal shotage. The problem is countrywide. On the Copperbelt, shortages are more pronounced because the province is flanked by a very hungry neighbour, Congo DR, who does’t shy to pay from openly handheld thick wads of greenbacks, the USD. When Zambia had more than enough, Congo was not panicking, unlike now. “Uunga” high demand has unleashed the animal called smuggling once again.
The appreciation of the Kwacha is due to the $16m Kamala gave us and the few dollars delegates for the Democracy conference l spent in Lusaka. Iam sure the convoy of American vehicles used by Kamala bought our fuel in dollars. That could only be the explanation for the appreciation. Kaya!
It’s a bunch of headless chickens led by BMW.
Mealie meal shortage is expected during the rainy season and just before harvest, This is because the previous year’s harvest is dwindling in supplies but am sure once the harvest commences and is bought by the FRA, the shortages will be thing of the past. However,d during this period we are expecting the government to ban the export of Maize meal until the situation stabilizes.
All farmers must now prepare for the 2023/2024 season and plant a lot of hectares for maize planting. There is a ready market available.