Mealie Meal Smuggler Shot Dead Amid Shortages

An alleged mealie meal smuggler was earlier this week shot dead in Kasumbalesa.

According to Copperbelt Police Commissioner Charity Katanga the smuggler and his accomplices were intercepted by officers of the Zambia National Service (ZNS).

The smugglers reportedly threw objects at the officers, who subsequently opened fire on the group shooting George Chibolya, 67, dead and injuring one other in the party.

In recent weeks shortages of mealie meal have been reported, including in parts of the Copperbelt. 

According to Copperbelt Minister Japhen Mwakalombe one of the reasons behind the shortages is that some groups are buying mealie meal in bulk to smuggle over the border to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Following an operation with the Zambia Police and Ndola City council Mwakalombe previously revealed that 1,000 bags of mealie meal were seized in the border township of Kawama. 

Commenting on the situation Mwakalombe is quoted as stating, “The smuggling of mealie-meal has led to an artificial shortage of the commodity and a hike in prices in Ndola and around the Copperbelt. During the operation, about 1000 bags of mealie-meal were seized in the bordering township of Kawama with the aid of residents who became whistleblowers. Hundreds of bags were found in tightly locked up stores and others hidden in homes, under beds, fridges and tall grass. It was also discovered that most are smuggling the mealie-meal using bicycles. A couple of bicycles were found in the shops with bags of mealie-strapped around them in disguise.”

“The mealie-meal was hidden in cement bags, chitenge wrappers and so on and forth. At border Maria Chimona, smugglers were also using bicycles with National Registration Cards which belong to other people to smuggle the commodity into DRC,” he explained.