LUSAKA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government on Tuesday announced a restriction on the export of maize and mealie meal due to a prolonged dry spell that could affect the harvest.
Minister of Agriculture Reuben Phiri said the restriction will only be lifted after a careful assessment of the next harvest.
"Owing to the prevailing situation, the government will continue to put the interest of the country above everything else. In this regard, it has restricted the export of maize grain and mealie meal," the minister said while delivering a ministerial statement in Parliament on the country's food security situation given the dry spell.
The government, he said, has since deployed defense personnel to guard all known smuggling routes to reduce the incidence of smuggling, while security patrols and roadblocks are also being increased in districts prone to smuggling.
He, however, said the country is currently food secure, with about 800,000 metric tons of maize, which is enough to take the country beyond the next harvest.
In Zambia, 10 provinces have been affected by the prolonged dry spell.
