Government  has confiscated more than 9,500 bags of mealie meal in Chililabombwe which were destined for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). And Copperbelt Minister Japhen Mwakalombe says he will engage Minister of Finance Margaret Mwanakatwe for Government to build border control facilities at Mokambo and Sakania border posts to increase revenue collection bases.

Chililabombwe District Commissioner Paul Mulenga said in an interview that eight trucks each laden with 1,200 bags of mealie meal have been impounded at the Konkola check-point and the commodity has been confiscated. “We are checking trucks we suspect are carrying mealie meal because we are not allowing trucks with mealie meal to cross the police check-point to Kasumbalesa.

“We have so far impounded eight big trucks and some small vehicles which were carrying mealie meal,” he said, stating the 9,600 bags are being kept and would be disposed of by the courts of law.
He said the measures to stop the illegal export of mealie meal by some unscrupulous businessmen and women are good for securing national food security.

Mr Mwakalombe said Government will not treat anyone involved in the illegal export and smuggling of mealie meal from Zambia with kid gloves.
The minister conducted an on-the-spot-check of the Sakania and Mokambo borders following reports of rampant smuggling of maize meal into DRC.
“Patrols will continue, Government will not allow the smuggling of goods, especially mealie meal,” Mr Mwakalombe said.

At Mokambo, Mufulira District Commissioner Hilda Kawesha informed Mr Mwakalombe that smuggling is going on but Zambia Police Service and Zambia National Service officers are alert and are confiscating mealie meal from vehicles. Although the border is porous, Ms Kawesha said officers from the two defence wings are working hard to curb the smuggling.

Mufulira Mayor Gift Mushinge said there has been a high number of trucks from northern Zambia because the Copperbelt has been opened up for trade with the Great Lakes region following the building of roads.
And Mr Mwakalombe said he will engage Mrs Mwanakatwe to replicate the Kasumbalesa border control facilities at the Mokambo and Sakania border control points.

Driving on the Ndola-Mufulira road from Sakania to Mokambo yesterday, the minister witnessed a heavy traffic of trucks from the DRC using the route through Zambia to avoid paying toll fees. He noted that Government is losing revenue.

“I will appeal to the Ministry of Finance so that we can expedite building of border control facilities at Mokambo and Sakania. We should put in place measures for Government to raise money,” he said. Mr Mwakalombe said replicating the Kasumbalesa border control facilities, which is managed by Zambia Integrated Property Border Crossing Company (ZipBCC), will help Government capture income lost because of inadequate border control points at the two borders