The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in Solwezi district will this week offload six hundred (600) by 50 kilogramme bags of white maize to the community under the community sales programme.

Solwezi District Commissioner Anthony Fulwe says this is in an effort to avert the hunger situation in the district which has come as a result of the drought experienced this year.

Mr Fulwe says each 50 kilogramme bag of maize will be sold at K300 and Solwezi residents are encouraged to buy.

He adds that besides the Zambia National Service (ZNS) mealie which is being sold for K180 per 25kilogramme bag of roller mealie and K230 for a K25 kilogramme bag of breakfast, this will provide a cheaper alternative source of mealie meal.

“We have already written to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) for community maize sales and before the end of this week, Solwezi residents should be able to access it.” Said Mr Fulwe.

He added that government had put in measures to ensure the grain is not smuggled out of the country or bought for reselling into shops thereby depriving the rightful people from benefiting.

“To buy the maize, it will be one bag per month per family, and those with big families, are advised to identify themselves with their councilors who will bring the list to my office for consideration for more bags.” Said Fulwe.

He added that payments for the purchase of the maize will be made through the bank to avoid smuggling.

Mr Fulwe has sounded a warning to all those intending to buy Maize to resell that they will be arrested.

“If you are caught reselling maize from FRA, you will be arrested, government is alert and will ensure that the maize benefits the intended people” Said Fulwe.

Mr Fulwe added that government is committed to ensuring that no one dies of hunger this year  and that his office will continue requesting from the government for maize sales as the government only allocates six hundred bags per request.