Govt destroys 10 metric tonnes of smuggled flour

01 February 2010, The Post
URL: http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=5168

Lusaka: The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in Eastern Province on Friday destroyed about 10 metric tonnes of flour that was smuggled into Zambia from neighbouring Malawi.

Provincial plant health inspector Machine Chikwekwe said the flour that was confiscated did not pass through the designated border points.  “The flour passed through illegal routes around Mwami and Lusuntha border in Lundazi. You know we confiscated this flour because people didn't follow right channels to import this flour," Chikwekwe said.

He said currently there was a ban on the importation of flour.  “I think you are aware that as a country we are not importing flour so there is a ban and no permits are being issued for this. But most importantly for us here is I think on the pest risk that this flour may likely come with.  The flour, fine it's being produced in Malawi but the ingredients, the wheat itself that is being used to make the flour in Malawi. Malawi is importing wheat from many countries. For example, it can come from Germany, maybe from another country elsewhere and then when it comes into Malawi they mill and blend and produce it into flour," Chikwekwe said.

He said in terms of pests, it was very difficult for the agriculture ministry to contain them depending on the source.  “...For example, the pest that is found on the wheat in Germany may not be the same pest that may be found on the wheat in Malawi. So for us here when we do the pest...analysis to look at what pests are likely to come with this flour, we will look at the wheat that is being grown in Malawi. We will not be considering what is grown from Germany,” Chikwekwe  said.

“So that put us on a disadvantage because once this wheat is introduced in this country it will be very difficult for even our farmers to produce our own wheat.”

He said the agriculture ministry was just trying to protect the industry by making sure that they carried out pest analysis on whatever was brought into the country.  Chikwekwe said there were more disadvantages on the imported wheat than advantages.