• Government must lift the ban of Timber exports
• Timber producers encountering loses because of this.
• Timber producers have started selling their timber at a very low price to avoid it going to waste

Timber Producers Association of Zambia (TPAZ) has called on Government to lift the timber export ban.

Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Association President Charles Masange noted that the ban has caused Timber producers to start encountering loses in their day to day businesses because prices of the commodity have drastically reduced on the local market.

Mr. Masange explained that timber producers have resorted to start selling their timber at a very low price to prevent the commodity from going to waste.

He said to address this challenge, Government should lift the ban and create an auction floor for timber in the country.
Mr. Masange stated that the lack of a timber auction floor encourages corruption, capital flight and loss of government revenue because timber exports are not transparent.

“Government must open auction centers where timber merchants can auction their timber so that they are not affected by the suspension if it decides to continue with the ban,” he said.

Recently, Minister of Green Economy and Environment Collins Nzovu banned issuance of export permits to maintain and clean the timber industry.