Lungu, Zuma commit to address trade imbalance between Zambia, SA

President Edgar Lungu and his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma have committed to reverse the trade imbalance between the countries. Zambian exports to South Africa stand at US$34 million, while its imports are more than US$2.6 billion. “We need to scale up efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and South Africa…

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Mukula-laden trucks impounded in upsurge in illicit trade of endangered tree

Police in North Western Province have impounded nine trucks with mukula logs. Eight people were arrested. More than 30 trucks countrywide have been impounded over the last month, in what appears to be an upsurge in the illicit trade of the endangered trees. “Eight out of the nine drivers are…

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Maize exports lift Zambian trade volumes to Great Lakes

Zambia’s trade volumes to the Great Lakes Region have increased to more than 15 000 tons, following the decision to lift the maize export ban, says Zambian Minister of Transport and Communications Brian Mushimba. The minister says the modernisation of Mpulungu Port, the gateway to the region,  will further bolster…

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African fish trade tackled in Think Tank

Improving fish trade between African countries was on the agenda during a recent Think Tank Meeting in Nigeria. “The overall objective of this meeting was to present the research and development findings and outputs by studies under the Fisheries Governance and Fish Trade Projects and to identify policy entry points…

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Fast growing African population: Opportunity or threat for Africa’s agriculture?

Decisions made by South African and African policymakers now will determine the contribution the agricultural sector will make to the growing demand for food the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing. Lulama Ndibongo-Traub, from the Bureau of Food and Agricultural Policy’s (BFAP) research section for Africa – at the annual BFAP…

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Informal markets keeping economy afloat

The South African economy is actually growing between 3% and 4% - in contrast to the current figure of 2% - because the informal market is vastly underestimated, says Ernst Janovsky, agricultural economist. Janovsky, who addressed delegates at the AGM of the South African Grain Information Service (Sagis) about the…

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Zambian Mukula traders sue government over export ban

Mukula traders, reeling from the adverse effects of the moratorium on the export of the sought-after timber species, have dragged the Zambian government to court. Government last month imposed an export ban on several species, including Mukula, to curb illegal harvest and trade. The legal action comes only days after…

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South Africa signs TFTA for enhanced inter-regional trade in Africa

South Africa is the 19th country to sign the agreement for a Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) in Africa. The area includes 26 countries from three regional economic communities: the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), and the East African Community (EAC).…

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COMESA wants harmonisation of livestock laws to unlock trade

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has called for the harmonisation of veterinary legislation to unlock international livestock trade among member states. This as the World Health Organisation (WHO) said harmonisation of the laws will help curb disease. According to COMESA, the process can be expedited by…

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Illicit sugar imports hurting local industry – Zambia Sugar

An influx of smuggled sugar – now estimated at 20 000 tons a year - is negatively affecting the local industry. This according to the country’s major producer Zambia Sugar, who called for government intervention to halt illicit imports. “The smuggling of the commodity has created a black economy which…

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Namibian trucks still in Zambia after timber ban

Zambian officials continue to tighten the screws on the illegal trade in Mukula and consequently impounded a number of trucks, the Republikein reports. Charity Mwiya, manager of member services at the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), said officials prevented six trucks with Namibian registrations to leave the country.…

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East African traders strengthen food trade to secure food supplies from Southern Africa

The Regional Trade Facilitation Forum in Lusaka is working to strengthen food trade linkages between southern African countries. More than 195 maize and other grain commodity traders attended the meeting where buyers and sellers signed trade deals valued at US$100 million for the export of grain commodities. The forum was…

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SA to increase trade and industry to Kenya, Tanzania

The South African Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) aims to increase trade and investment with Kenya and Tanzania. The department will lead 27 South African companies from various sectors on a mission to the two countries at the end of June, to identify trade and investment opportunities. Rob Davies,…

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Zambian maize farmers must target East African markets – PMRC

The Policy Monitoring and Research Centre (PMRC) says the maize surplus in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region provides an opportunity for Zambian maize farmers to exploit the north and East African markets. PMRC executive director Bernadette Deka says farmers can take advantage of price differentials between surplus and…

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“Export duty to spur maize smuggling” – Zambian opposition leader

The 10% export duty on raw maize is a recipe for smuggling, says Wynter Kabimba, a former minister and leader of the Zambian opposition party, Rainbow. Kabimba said the export duty will ultimately make government lose colossal sums of revenue as grain traders resort to smuggling. “There are many bush…

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SADC creates common fish trading standards

The Southern Africa Development Community (SADCs) has harmonised fish trading standards which member states must follow within the free trade area. This will include the standard of fresh fish, chilled fish, canned sardines and quick frozen fish fillets. “We are urging Zambian manufacturers, traders and suppliers of trading in fish…

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Mealie meal prices to fall as traders agree with government

The Grain Traders Association of Zambia (GTAZ) have agreed to put 245 000 ton of maize on the market, ending a standoff between the traders and government. The offloading of maize would start immediately and continue until May, said Chambuleni Simwinga, GTAZ’s executive director. “We must be responsible, and we…

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‘Bring balance to trade and investment between Zambia and South Africa’

Zambian business people appealed to their South African counterparts to invest in manufacturing and agro-processing in Zambia. Ms. Roseta Mwape-Chabala, president of the Zambia Association of Manufacturers, said Zambians appreciated South Africans’ investment in malls and franchising in their country, but appealed to them to put the same energy and…

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AGCO coming to root in Africa in 2017

The AGCO (agricultural company) corporation has expanded into Africa from their Asia Pacific region, and has said it hoped to offer solutions to small-scale farmers. “Our line of mechanisation, grain storage, seed processing and protein solutions supports the complete spectrum of farmers, from emerging sector to large [scale farmers] and…

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