By MILDRED KATONGO
A TEAM of Zambia National Service personnel has recovered more than 1,500 bags of mealie meal stashed in several houses on the borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in a smuggling syndicate believed to be masterminded by a Ndola business executive.
Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Elias Kamanga has pin-pointed that the wanted business executive was recently acquitted by the courts for engaging in similar activities and is shocked that he is ‘back in business’.
“The same mealie meal recovered is connected to this man (business executive). I am aware that there are some Government officials that are aiding the perpetrators of smuggling. Let me warn you, that I will not hesistate to deal with any government official involved in smuggling,” Mr Kamanga told a Press briefing in Ndola yesterday.

KAMANGA

The ZNS raid was conducted in the early hours of Sunday, at 17 miles area located between Ndola and Mufulira, resulting in the collection of 1,660 bags, hidden in houses.
The Government has issued a ban on mealie meal or grain exports to safeguard the country’s local consumption levels.
He appealed to security wings to tighten efforts and curb smuggling, a rife activity with a yawning market in the DRC, which fetches lucrative profits.
Mr Kamanga said it was sad to not that, while the Government was trying to put measures to reduce the prices of mealie meal, some individuals were smuggling the commodity and creating a shortage.
“I will get down to this matter and ensure it is dealt with once and for all,” he added.