THE security wings are patrolling in all border towns and those found smuggling mealie meal will have themselves to blame, Copperbelt Province Minister Elisha Matambo has warned.
Mr. Matambo said the government was on top of things with regard to exposing and curbing all illegal mealie meal smuggling activities in Zambia.
Early this week a video from Kasumabalesa border went viral where it was discovered that some mealie meal smugglers had putlots of mealie meal bags in readiness for smuggling to the neighboring country.
Speaking to The Scoop Mr. Matambo said that interventions aimed at stopping mealie smuggling were strengthened especially that a task force had been set to patrol all border areas.
He explained that the task force would continue to patrol all border areas 24/7 and that all persons involved in such activities risked being cornered and face the wrath of the law.
The minister said that smuggling of mealie meal to neighbouring countries had contributed to the shortages and high prices of the commodity in the province and other parts of the country.
“We have task teams which have continued to patrol the border area 24/7 and I am sure you have seen that the impounding of vehicles involved in such activities have been done time and again. Some of these smugglers once exposed are taken to court.
“As these interventions have been put up, but I think going forward, as a country we need to have stiffer punishment for everyone found wanting but the fight is still on and our team is on patrol in almost all border towns. You know these smugglers keep on changing their way of doing things but as Government we will continue fighting this issue just like what is happening in Kasumbalesa,” he said.
Mr. Malambo further urged Copper belt residents to join in the fight against mealie meal smuggling with the view to help lower the prices.
He said that it is not right for some parts of the country to report shortages of the commodity and price hikes mainly as a result of smuggling.