.Simbyakula
By SYLVIA MWEETWA –
THE Government has given the Zambia Prisons Service K3 million for the purchase of maize from the Food Reserve Agency for its Kalonga Milling plant.
Meanwhile, Lusaka Central Prisons has recorded and treated 459 cases of dysentery but the disease has since been controlled and no death has been recorded.
Home Affairs Minister Ngosa Simbyakula said once the maize is purchased, it will allow the newly installed milling plant to function fully.
The plant has the capacity to produce 80 tonnes of mealie meal per day and it requires 584,000 by 50 kilogramme bags of maize per year to operate at full capacity.
Dr Simbyakula, who was accompanied by Agriculture Minister Wylbur Simuusa was speaking when he toured the milling plant in Kabwe yesterday.
He said the allocated money was aimed at allowing the milling plant operate efficiently.
Dr Simbyakula said the Government was interested in seeing the milling plant operate at full capacity and assist cushioning the high cost of mealie meal in the country.
He said the ministry had incorporated the Ministry of Agriculture with a view to work towards reducing the cost of mealie meal, using maize produced by the Prisons Service as well as the Zambia National Service.
