Government has intensified surveillance in mealie meal smuggling prone areas to curb the scourge.
Agriculture Minister Mtolo Phiri says this has been done in collaboration with the defence forces.
Meanwhile, over 74, 000 metric tonnes of maize from the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has been offloaded to millers to help reduce mealie meal to affordable prices.
The Minister has further reiterated that the high demand characterised with smuggling of mealie-meal are the leading causes of price hikes and shortages across the country.
By Shem Malinda