By ANDREW MUKOMA
THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) at the Victoria Falls border Post in Livingstone has seized over 250 bags of mealie meal that was smuggled from the country and destined to be sold in neighboring Zimbabwe.
A total of 296 kilograms (296 X25KG) bags of mealie meal were confiscated from traders that wanted to smuggle the commodity into Zimbabwe.
Zambia Revenue Authority Commissioner General Dingani Banda disclosed that authority will in collaboration with other state authorities ensure that all exports of mealie meal and other maize products have valid permits and authorization before being exported out of the country.
Mr Banda said that the food shortage in the neighboring countries have seen mealie meal fetching very lucrative prices when exported there.
He said that any consignment being attempted to be smuggled out of the country are liable to seizure including the vessels that are used to convey them.
Mr Banda accompanied by other senior ZRA officials has since donated the smuggled mealie meal to three public benefit organizations based in Livingstone namely the Catholic Diocese of Livingstone, the SOS Children’s Village and the Sons of thunder.
He has warned that the authority will not relent in ensuring that all forms of smuggling activities are curtailed, saying both the products and vessels used in the process will be seized and forfeited to the state.