Government has mandated Zambia Forestry and Industry Corporation ZAFICO to auction all confiscated Mukula tree logs in Eastern Province.
Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo disclosed this to Breeze News in an interview.
Mr. Kasolo says all Mukula tree logs that were confiscated by police and chiefs are being auctioned to potential buyers in various places where they are being kept.
He says the ban to harvest Mukula tree is still in force and anyone found harvesting will be prosecuted adding that buying of the commodity is also being done with certification from ZAFICO.
Mr Kasolo says the tree is considered as an endangered species adding that it takes more than 100 years to reach harvest time.
He says so far the selling exercise in police stations and chiefdoms has been going on smoothly.
The permanent secretary however, stated that he could not tell how much government has realized from the sale of the commodity as he has not yet been availed with figures.