GOVT BEGINS TALKS WITH KENYAN FIRM TO BUY 10.8 MILLION BAGS OF MAIZE

The Zambian government has officially opened trade discussions with Kenya's Baita Trading Limited following a massive push by the East African nation to secure over 10 million bags of grain to plug a domestic deficit. Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary for Technical Services John Mulongoti confirmed that preliminary talks are underway, with the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) taking the lead role in hammering out the logistics, pricing, and scheduling of the massive export transaction. According to Baita Trading Limited representatives, Kenya faces an acute national deficit following a below-normal harvest, prompting Nairobi to look toward Southern Africa's grain basket. The firm has expressed readiness to immediately purchase and take delivery of 10.8 million 90-kilogramme bags of maize, forming part of Kenya's broader stated requirement of 25 million bags. Kenyan trade delegations have emphasized that the company is prepared to meet favorable payment terms to secure immediate grain flows into East Africa. Back in Lusaka, the move has triggered intense domestic scrutiny, given Zambia's recent history of battling severe drought, erratic rainfall, and fluctuating mealie meal prices. Government officials, however, have rushed to reassure citizens that national food security remains insulated. The FRA currently maintains substantial maize stocks following improved seasonal outputs and carry-over reserves, leading technocrats to argue that regional exports will not jeopardize local availability. Despite the optimistic outlook on production surpluses, logistics remain a major bottleneck for the prospective mega-deal. During recent inspections of border posts and transit depots, Ministry officials expressed dissatisfaction with the sluggish pace of cross-border truck clearance, warning that transport bottlenecks could frustrate the timely execution of international supply contracts. Furthermore, traditional stakeholders, including local millers and small-scale fa