President Levy Mwanawasa has implored the Zambia Prison Services to produce more food in order for it to reduce dependence on the national treasury for its operations.
Mr. Mwanawasa wondered why the ZPS could fail to produce food for the inmates when
the institution has a lot of manpower and abunbant land.
He warned prison officers against rampant use of inmates to cultivate field for Prison staff instead of cultivating the prison farms stressing that basic things could be grown by the inmates themselves.
The president was speaking in Lusaka today when he officially flagged off 100 hectares of the Zambia-Egypt joint farming venture at Mwembeshi Prison farm.
He said the objective of the venture is equip inmates with modern agriculture skills in efforts of enhancing food production.
He said government has set aside funds in this years budget for the completion of the construction of Mwembeshi Prison as well as rehabilitation of infrastructure at selected prisons across the country.
He challenged Commissioner of Prisons, Jethrow Mumbuwa, to provide accurate data for
all the 53 prisons across the country before the president makes an official declaration on the status of the the Zambia Prisons Service.
Mr. Mwanawasa said government desires to explore horticulture, animal husbandry and
ranching to enhance productivity in the sector and that it is committed to strengthening existing bilateral relations with Egypt for the mutual benefit of people in the two countries.
The President earlier, commissioned an a Banana plantation at mwembeshi Prison farm
which was intiated by Mr. Mumbuwa.
And speaking earlier, Mr. Mumbuwa assured President Mwanawasa that at least 65,000 x 50 kilogram bags of maize would be harvested from the Zambia-Egypt joint farming
venture despite challenges of lack of modern equipment and skilled manpower.
Mr. Mumbuwa said the service intends to increase the hectarage from the current 100
to 200 in the next farming season and commended government fpr the continued support
in various areas such as transport to enable it fully execute its operations.
And Egyptian Ambassador to Zambia, Tamer Monsour, reteriated his government’s
commitment to strengthen the South-South bilateral relations emphasising that africa
is capable of standing on its own.
Mr. Monsour said the Zambi-Egypt joint farming venture is a true testimony of commitments by the two countries in promoting the performance of the agricultural
sector in Zambia.
A VERY USEFUL IDEA FROM LEVY THIS TIME. WE CAN CERTAINLY MAKE PRODUCTIVE USE OF THE TIME AND ENERGY THAT SITS ABUNDANTLY IN OUR PRISONS.