By CHATULA KANGALI –
THE Zambia National Association of Sawmillers (ZNAS) has called on members to start exporting soft wood.
Association president, William Bwalya, however, urged members to ensure that they comply with the laws govering the export of the wood.
Mr Bwalya also said the association was worried with the high number of foreigners who were buying soft wood in the country.
“There is need for sawmillers to export their produce as long as they ensure compliance with export taxes.
Today we have foreign traders entering Zambia to buy timber and exporting it  themselves,” he said.
Mr Bwalya who said this in a statement, called on Government to review the sale of Mukula trees as the hard wood was not listed as an endangered species.
He said according to the law, people were free to trade in the Mukula tree in Zambia but that choosing specific companies to trade in the tree was unlawful.
Mr Bwalya said that the forest department had picked two companies out of the 500,000 in the country to export the Mukula tree to China.
“For the Government to select only one public company to trade in the Mukula tree on its behalf is interpreted in different ways by many people.
This year, we need a fair playing ground in the forest and wood sector especially hard woods,” he stated.
Mr Bwalya said 2015 was a bad year for sawmillers due to the low allocation of soft wood.
He said the association was this year expecting a new Forest Act to be implemented that will ensure growth in the industry.