FQM will only transport 4,000 of 650,000metric tonnes of metric tonnes of maize for free- Pollen
The Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit -DMMU- has dismissed reports that it has awarded a contract to First Quantum Minerals -FQM- to transport 650,000 metric tonnes of maize from Tanzania to Zambia.
DMMU National Coordinator GABRIEL POLLEN says following the declaration of the current drought as a disaster and emergency, and humanitarian assistance appeal made by President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, various stakeholders have offered their support to the government.
Dr. POLLEN says FQM has generously volunteered to transport 4,000 metric tonnes of maize at no cost to the government.
He told ZNBC in a statement that FQM will bear the transportation cost of the maize at their budgeted amount of 500,000 United States Dollars.
Dr. POLLEN said FQM will move the commodity from Tanzania to the Food Reserve Agency -FRA- storage depots in Kapiri Mposhi in Central Province and other depots on the Copperbelt.
He said the voluntary assistance will be carried out using their returning copper anode export trucks that will bring in maize that the DMMU is importing from Tanzania.
MEANWHILE, the DMMU National Coordinator has announced that the maize imports purchased by the Zambian government through the Unit have started arriving in the country.
The maize is meant to ensure food security following the drought of 2023/2024.
FQM will only transport 4,000 of 650,000metric tonnes of metric tonnes of maize for free- Pollen
