Zambia Signs Historic Mealie Meal Export Deal with DRC

Zambia's Food Reserve Agency has signed a landmark agreement to export 480,000 metric tonnes of mealie meal to the Democratic Republic of Congo, President Hakainde Hichilema has announced.

The export deal, confirmed by the President at the Seedco National Field Day last week, marks a significant step in Zambia's ambition to grow its agricultural export sector. Speaking at the event, where he launched a new early-maturing seed variety, SC561, President Hichilema stressed the importance of developing contract production systems for exports as a driver of broader economic growth.

The President gave a firm commitment that the DRC border would not be closed again, referencing the commercial damage caused by the previous closure, which allowed South Africa to capture Zambia's mealie meal market. He said efforts are already underway to reclaim that lost ground.

On the domestic front, President Hichilema announced that agricultural assets would be reclassified as financial assets under strengthened legislation, with crimes involving the theft or sale of counterfeit seed, fertiliser and other agricultural inputs to be prosecuted through the Financial Crimes Court.

He also commended Seedco for its continued investment in research and technology, urging the company to develop seed varieties suitable for animal grazing.

The DRC deal is the clearest sign yet that Zambia's agricultural ambitions are moving from rhetoric to reality. With foreign exchange flowing in, smallholder farmers gaining reliable markets, and the New Dawn reform agenda taking tangible shape, this agreement could prove to be one of the most consequential decisions of President Hichilema's first term.