Malawi’s neighbor Zambia has with immediate effect lifted an export ban which it imposed on maize and wheat bran saying Malawians are now free to trade in the commodities between the countries.

The ban was imposed in May this year in accordance with the Control of Goods Act Cap 421 Section 3 of the Laws of Zambia and was aimed at protecting the country’s local livestock sector.

However, this policy decision has now been relooked, said a top diplomatic.

A statement issued by the Zambia’s High Commissioner to Malawi in Lilongwe Billy Munyumbwe indicates that the lifting of the ban, through the country’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, follows the successful consultation with stakeholders in the sector.

“The Zambian government effected the ban to protect the livestock industry and now this decision has been reversed.

“We are calling upon all the various business people and institutions in Malawi which might be interested in importing maize and wheat bran to look no further than the Zambian market to procure the commodities as they are being offered at relatively competitive prices,” High Commissioner Munyumbwe said.

This year, Zambia produced 2.8 million tonnes of maize, which is 300,000 tonnes above the country’s total national maize consumption of 2.5 million tonnes.

Despite the partial drought the country experienced, Zambia still managed to have a surplus of one million tonnes of maize because of carry-over stocks of 770,931 tonnes from the 2010/2011 farming season according to the statement.