The Government of Zambia has refuted social media reports alleging that it has cancelled a maize export agreement with Malawi over payment disputes, calling the claims false and malicious.Recent posts circulating online, including a fabricated letter purportedly signed by Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mulambo Haimbe and a fake Daily Nation publication, claimed that the maize export deal had been terminated.
However, Zambia’s Minister of Information and Chief Government Spokesperson, Cornelius Mweetwa, has firmly dismissed the allegations, clarifying that the reports are entirely baseless.“Government wishes to categorically state that these reports are false, misleading, and malicious,” said Mweetwa in a statement issued in Lusaka.
He noted that the maize export agreement between the two neighbouring countries remains fully intact and that there are no issues affecting the transaction.Mweetwa further clarified that all matters related to maize exports fall under the Ministry of Agriculture, not the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as indicated in the false documents circulating online.The Government of Malawi recently confirmed its plan to purchase 200,000 metric tonnes of maize worth approximately K135 billion from Zambia to cushion the effects of food shortages in the country.
