. Monde

By STELLA SIMUTOWE –
GOVERNMENT has warned that it will ban all importers of cheap fish and processed meat that are threatening the market for domestic products.
Minister of Fisheries and Livestock Greyford Monde said there was need to strike a balance between imports and domestic production in order to have sustainable and cost-effective investment without relying on cheap imports.
The minister said although imports were allowed in the country, they were sold at premium prices denying people the consumer benefits that they deserved.
“This kind of profitting is actually a criminal act which should not be allowed to continue. I will not allow the country to be turned into a dumping ground of cheap imports,” Mr Monde said.
He said imports of animal products in the country had affected domestic production growth and contributed to the vulnerability of the national economy.
The minister said the development of the nation depended on the increase of production and productivity, adding that importation should not be a long-term solution.
Mr Monde said Government was keen on ensuring that the fisheries and livestock sectors achieved the potential to become drivers of sustainable economic growth.
He said his ministry would ensure it provided an enabling environment for sustainable increase in the production and productivity of high quality marketable fisheries and livestock products in the quest to make the country a net exporter of red and white meat.
The ministry held a consultative meeting with stakeholders yesterday to discuss the harmonisation of imports in terms of volume and sanitary requirements for fish, processed meat, and mechanically deboned meat in order to safeguard the Zambian industry.