Thursday, March 28, 2024

Paramount Chief Mpezeni appeals to Govt not to export maize

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Mpezeni arrive
Chief Mpezeni arrive for the ceremony

PARAMOUNT Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni speaking people of Eastern Province has appealed to Government not to export maize to other countries due to the looming hunger this year.

Chief Mpezeni said when newly appointed Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo paid a courtesy call on him in Chipata on Tuesday that there was poor rainfall pattern being experienced in the 2014/2015 farming season which would cause hunger.

The traditional leader has since urged the Government through Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) under the Office of the Vice President to keep maize safe for distribution in the areas that would be hit by hunger.

The paramount chief has also urged the Government to seriously pay out farmers on time after selling their maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).

He said that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government has done a tremendous job in other sector apart from the agriculture sector which he said had been in a mess.
The paramount chief also appealed to the Government to distribute the farming inputs on time.

In response, Mr Kasolo said that Government would ensure that it sorts out the challenges that have been occurring in the agriculture sector.

He said Government under the leadership of President Edgar Lungu would continue with the development that late president Michael Sata initiated.

Mr Kasolo said that Government would not relax in taking development forward to all parts of the country.

The permanent secretary said the PF Government means business in terms of fostering development in all sectors of the economy such as road infrastructure, health schools and many other projects.

In a related development, Chief Msoro of the Kunda Speaking People of Mambwe has hunger was looming in his chiefdom following the dry spell which had hit his area.
Chief Msoro said yesterday the area had not experience enough rains a sign that he said his subjects would experience hunger in the chiefdom.

He appealed to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) to ensure that they position themselves in readiness for the looming hunger in the chiefdom.
“I am appealing to the DMMU to prepare for the distribution of relief food in my chiefdom,” Chief Msoro said.

The traditional leader has also bemoaned the bad state of a 57 kilometre of the Msoro road from the Great East Road.

He recalled that the road was last upgraded in 1948 adding that it had never been attended too by the previous governments.

He said the culverts on the Msoro road had been washed away by the heavy current and appealed to President Edgar Lungu to intervene into the matter.

Chief Msoro said the road should be attended too because it was an important stretch as a ZESCO sub-station was also his chiefdom.

8 COMMENTS

  1. Well, perhaps now the Minister of Agriculture will listen to the Chief having considered FDD’s similar observations the other day as political image building.

  2. PF chief cadre

    Yamunyokola njala! Its the effects of the deteriorated economy & melting Kwacha that have started to kick in. He’s feeling the “Donchi Kubeba” effects of PF poor plannings.

    After ululating for PF as chief cadre, surely he is enduring the effects of hunger, to me this is a cry, calling PF to rescue him with a pay Cheque. Ya nyokola njala Ba Mupezenileni vo kudya!

    Moreover, Chief turned political PF cadre, its your ululations which contributed to this economic suffering the majority poor Zambians are currently & consistently suffering.
    First imunyokole until the the mouth dries out, so that he goes back to be the Real Chief Mpezeni of the people, not PF Chief CADRE!

    The Skeleton Key
    ~206~

  3. The paramount cadre seconds FDD sentiments. Maybe people will listen now. Well the PF has certainly messed up in the wrong sector. Isn’t this one of the most important sectors that. Can mitigate our dependency on copper?

  4. Ticky headed people think it is only Southern Province hit with this weather pattern and want to fix the BULLs in the Southern Zambia republic, forget it. It is only when you do not read vastly, that is when you have narrow approach to everything. Just tell your Minister of Agriculture to be mindful and stop intent to export maize as His Royal Highness Mpezeni says or else the hunger if it becomes so wide spread will send PF parking just like UNIP under KK. Hunger by the way is more virulant than joblessness.

  5. One must take a Patriotic attitude to the rising problems. We hold hands together and do a lot of praying.

    The truth is Zambia is wasting it’s an natural resources giving away to the development of foreign countries while we eek out a living out of Cobs of Maize.

    The notifications to gov’t are correct but I think we all need to be realistic and understand this looming potential problem is due to rains. We must all be disciplined enough to work with Gov’t to prepare for future problems.

    It’s imperative that opposition work with gov’t instead of politicising this matter.

  6. country men we are in crop marketing and understand that we have excess to sell and still have enough to eat dont get excited.

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