Central Province Minister Honourable Credo Nanjuwa has thanked the Defence Force for aiding the Civil Authority in hauling the maize grain which was marooned in various satellite depots to the main storage sheds in Central Province.
Mr Nanjuwa explained that the Zambia Defence Force was engaged to mop up the maize from Satellite depots in the Province after local transporters failed to collect the grain due to the bad road network.
The Minister said this today in Kabwe when he officially closed the maize haulage exercise dubbed ‘Exercise Butala’ in Central Province.
He disclosed that the exercise which commenced in March this year has seen the Defence Force transport 150,747 bags of maize weighing 50Kg each that were marooned in various depots.
Mr Nanjuwa cautioned farmers against selling their maize grain to briefcase buyers at lower prices, but urged them to sell to FRA. He added that Central Province is very secure in terms of food.
Meanwhile, Food Reserve Agency (FRA) Representative, Ms Gladys Muwamba said that the FRA had challenges in transporting the maize stock which was marooned in different satellite depots due to poor roads. She explained that it was the reason why the Government engaged the Defence Force to move maize to the main storage sheds as the Agency’s registered transporters declined to take up the task due to bad road network.
And 2 Infantry Brigade Deputy Commander Colonel Habasune Fine Mpenzele thanked Command of the three Services of the Defence Force and the Provincial Administration for the support they rendered to the haulage team to accomplish the task.
He said the Brigade stands ready to aid civil authorities whenever called upon.
Source: The Zambia Army
