Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) president, Hakainde Hichilema has called upon government to address the sky rocketing prices of fertilizer because it was beyond the reach of peasant farmers in the province.
And Southern province Minister, Daniel Munkombwe, Daniel Munkombwe said government was equally concerned at the rising cost of fertilizer and would do everything possible to help.
Speaking during this year’s Gonde Lwiindi ceremony in Monze today, Mr. Hichilema said the price of fertilizer pegged at over K 210, 000 per 50 kilogram bag this year was too high for the ordinary peasant farmers to afford.
He said for farmers to grow food, they need fertilizer, adding that government must look into this issue if farmers were to have sufficient harvests.
Mr. Hichilema, who is also patron of the Tonga Traditional Association, said his association decided to postpone this year’s Lwiindi ceremony which should have been held in July because of the illness pf President Mwanawasa.
Mr. Hichilema has however called for the harmonization of traditional ceremonies so that they were not held on the same dates as this was causing difficulties for people to attend the ceremonies.
He noted that apart from the Lwiindi Gonde ceremony being held in Monze, there wee similar ceremonies taking place today at chiefs Sinazongwe and Mukuni of Sinazongwe and Kazungula districts respectively.
And speaking during the same ceremony, Southern province Minister Daniel Munkombwe said Mr. Hakainde’s concern over the price of fertilizer was genuine.
He said government was similarly worried about the rising cost of fertilizer.
He said everything possible was being done to either revisit the pricing mechanism or other means that would cushion the farmers.
“I am grateful that you have been able to raise this matter”, Mr. Munkombwe told Mr. Hichilema.
He said this year has been a bad one because of the floods that wreaked havoc, destroying crop and infrastructure during the last rain season.
Mr. Munkombwe however said government is doing everything possible to repair the roads that were damaged.
He said contractors were already on site working on the Monze-Niko, Batoka-Maamba, Choma-Niko, and Livingstone-Zimba roads.
The minister also disclosed that government has released K 2.2 billion through the ministry of Education for the repair of blown off roofs of schools in Monze district.
And chief Monze apologised for holding this year’s ceremony together with that of chiefs Sinazongwe and Mukuni.
Chief Monze said the postponement of the ceremony was due to President Mwanawasa’s illness.
Several Southern province chiefs, who included Bright Nalubamba of Namwala, Chikanta and Nyawa of Kalomo district, attended this year’s Gonde Lwiindi ceremony.
ZANIS/CM/KSH/ENDS
HH’s concern is coming at the right time when govt shld be ashamed for failing to manage NCC to be able to produce adquate fertilizer 4 our farmers to grow enuf food 4 the nation.HH continue speaking 4 the voiceless Zambians.
High Fertilizer prices and malfunctioning of NCZ are results of failure of MMD’s
…policy on agriculture.MMD new deal copied UPND’s agriculural Policy bt have failed to impliment it bcoz they dont u/stand it and more so tht there hearts are nt wit it.HH show them the way.
I know certain bloggers will decide to argue with on what am about to say just for the sake of arguing PHD (PULL HIM DOWN Syndrome) but all being equal, HH will be our next President.You do not need to be a rocket scientist to understand this puzzle.
#4: Just because he has talked about fertilizer and you think he can be Presdo. He can only be Presdo forSouthern Province
Seriously,
the way things are going HH is the one. MMD entourage will have their tails between their legs thats for sure.
HH can only be president of zambia if he changes party. if he stands mu upnd or uda he will come second at least. if the 50+1 is used still MMD will spread wings coz will stand against us tonga’s. i know en believe that this my uncle can deliver, bt nt in our family (tribal) these ar facts. HH has gud education en agricultural policies wch i tink can move zambia forward. i can even finish sku at unza
#5 whether you like it or nt,HH is more likely to be the nxt Pres.Look around yourself (jealous dwn) and c how many factors or advantages he has against others.Most bloggers here cant read the game of politics.
Interesting Magande is leading as the preferred candidate to succeed LPM. This is according to the Zambia Online Newspaper.
Ba Bishop (#7),How tribal is UPND or HH?HH was in Luapula last wknd at Umutomboko Ceremony & was given a heros welcome by the pipo there.I was there.In short,this tribal behaviour is only here on this blog.Look at how tribal other Party’s are,i wont mention them its there 4 all to judge.
Its now nor never.As a youth activist,i can confirm things are happening out there.Are we doing it for Ngondo,Magande,Miyanda,Sata or HH?Am sure bloggers are all clever and know the ans.
First of all HH, have a haircut!
HH should retire
can someone shed light on the agriculture policy?
Dont underrate the talk about fertilizer. If he can make a good case, he is can get the rural vote; for like #10, if he talks well on this issue people in Northern province at least are very flexible and always waiting for a redeemer even a Tonga bull(forget about the tribalism talk-LPM is even worse) he will win their hearts, and then he can had on some more votes from Lsk and CB.Dont forget he speaks well about local governance an MMD forsaken area. MMD has made us to believe that MPs are the ones to bring development, when infact they are there to make laws!Local authorities should spearheed development. Sata has best ideas on L.G, but I think he is out of contention as things stand.
#15, sorry..; “he can get” the rural vote…
he can “add” on some votes from Lsk…
And talk of salary/allowance increaments;somehow it because of the pressure these MPs/ministers face in their costituencies to dish out or simply to do a little project from their own resources, that is forcing them to award themselves immoral perks.Dont rush to blame them the whole system is simply broken down, and needs repair. Thats why beyond LPM we now need a Presido who will spearhead the local govt restructring and implementation without fear.At the moment our MPs and Govt are not answerable to the people but to each one’s boss and the system.
from #16,
The system which only looks to people for votes and at voting time. In any case most of the votes are fraudulently bought. They are a cash transactions, 10pin, citenge,nshima with mbuzi and a free car rides, and you send someone to parliament.What much do you expect.In my view if YOU READ BETWEEN THE LINES the whole system is invert.
Can lusaka times pliz drop the user name of this sick ***** bastard#13,
frm the start or jst after the death of MAZOKA. UPND spoke a mass ” a tonga must succeed Mazoka”. that tells me tht UPND is a ****** party and tht HHHH etc is only popular amongst his relatives. we don’t think like boxer who upon memorising 5 to 8 he 4gets 1 to 4. the post newz papers headlines are still very fresh in our minds, “A TONGA MUST SUCCEED MAZOKA”. that speaks volume. who else can see what am seeing.
#19 you abviously did not read the full story after the headline maybe you just read the headline on the street side or online and could not read the full story because at the time they had started charging. Anyhow HH is not tribal and look; for you people who think Hichilema is not popular, think again because you will be shocked the way Kaunda was shocked, you are the same people who thought Sata would not be a factor in the 2006 elections. Had Sata not played Tribal i.e. campaigning in Luapula, Northern, Eastern, Copperbelt, Lusaka province, he might have been a President as we are saying, but he forgot that 5 provinces do not win an election. Watch this space.
#13 you retire from posting your messages,how can u say HH should retire when he has come to give hope to us all.Lets give our fellow a support to win and win for youth’s future. Also Kafupi the #19,pls every zambian has God’s given right to employment on any position in our country,even a political post.So HH won the party Presidence in UPND and is very geared to run the Republican Presidence.So just come on the board so that together we deliver to better zambia.
Contd 20… for you information, Madyenkuku who called for a Tonga president in UPND is now in MMD so is Mwanajiti who were quoted in the article that followed that headline you quoted. So if you are MMD sympathiser like I am now 60% UPND sympathiser, you might want to clean your house as MMD because the tribalists are now in your party. And guess what instead of embracing corrupt elements like Mabenga and Katele as the case is in MMD, HH sidelined Mwanajiti and Madyenkuku who thought they could win his praise after issuing those statements and hoped they were adopted as MPs, but guess what they were sidelined and because UPND is led by level headed people like HH, he let the party…
contd 22… deal with Madyenkuku and Mwanajiti. So baba ba kafupi landeni ko fimbi
Way to go HH. But it is not only Southern Province that needs affordable fertilizer prices.
$24 majority of maize used to come from there and I would imagine it was contextual, “SPEAKING AT THE LWIINDI CEREMONY”
Mwabeleka noba-basankwa baku-UPND. Keep it up. Thanks too to the MMD Minister Mr Munkombwe for realising that HH has the interest of the Nation at his heart.
Tell us what is the progress on the Choma-Niko road and Monze-Niko road? Have they started tarring the two roads or still surveying?
Cocroaches have come out of their closets to blog en masse just because of HH. If it was their SATAnyoko the issue of tribe wouldnt have arisen. I still maintain that these cocroaches are the worst thing to have happened to humanity and to zambia in particular. Note whatever you write here will just strenghten our resolve to move forward. No amount of ass fighting will bring this resolve to a close.
#28 just please tone down on the issue of coachroaches, the memories are bad, I am told what we saw in Hotel Rwanda and Shooting dogs is just the tip of the iceberg.
#27 where does this road go?
# 13, tell Sata to retire first so that he can have some time to play with his grand children and start farming. HH is unstoppable come 2011 elections or early elections. Watch the space! He is working with his team including myself.
#31 now am at 66% sympathy with UPND, I think they hold the key for stable Government and economic development.
WHY IS IT THAT NOW IN ZAMBIA,ITS MEN BEING SO TRIVIAL.WHERE IS THIS TRIBAL TALK LEADING TO?GREAT MINDS NEVER WASTE TIME ON TRIBALISM.ANYONE WHO CANNOT SEE ABILITY,SUBSTANCE AND POTENTIAL IN SOMEONE REGARDLESS OF THEIR TRIBE,IS RETROGRESSIVE AND AS SUCH A FAILURE.HH,SATA,MIYANDA,MUMBA OR ANY OTHER PERSON CAN BE VOTED NEXT PRESIDENT AS LONG AS THEY MEET THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE ZAMBIANS.LETS LOOK AT QUALITY,POLICIES,DIGNITY,TRACK RECORD OF SELF SUCCESS AND NOT MUTUNDU.AWE SURE,MU 21ST CENTURY SURE,TALKING ABOUT TRIBES.LEARN FROM AMERICA AND OBAMA.
pakuboko chabe,upnd zambia forward,
THOSE WITH TRIBALISM SENTIMENTS
Hey guys, learn to be MORE VISIONARY and perceive things beyond your TRIBALISM MAGNIFYING GLASS. You see things as a Zambian. We should be above politics of giving people tribal tags. For example some people who working outside zambia are recognised as Zambians not as Bemba, Tonga, Ngoni, Kaonde, Lozi etc. Let us continue with the spirit of NATIONALISM. We are one people with same blood. You ALL are a creation of God. Stop calling yourselves as belonging to right tribe to rule Zambia. Anyone can rule Zambia it does not matter what tribe he is; as long as he is right minded and has a vision for Zambia. STOP THIS STUPID TALK OF TRIBALSISM
#35 blackman , preach…..
Change of topic..Is there a way that we can hold the people in power accountable..
#35 Blackman well pointed out.And having lived outside for a while each time I blog this site I hve secod thoughts about coming to Zed for good.What if my neighbour is a tribal worrior or the shop assistant?Maybe have two homes and do a kuomboka every six months.
When you are away from home you miss the greetings of your neighbours the smiling stranger who willingly gives you direction but if If I came across the likes of Buju or someone who things Tongas will die…it freakes me out!Might as well retire in my spacious Buckinhamshire bungalow and enjoy a cup of tea every afternoon.
#38 to be honest wiv u only the street vendors in zed are tribe haters, otherwise general public are not tribalists at all, am stuned at some blogers whom i perceive to be learned and knowledgeble how they articulate and come out so mean about other tribes,
seriously let us give our fellow youth supprot to win and deliver us to zambia prosperity.it is about zambia’s future to look at first.i’m convinced H.H is able to bring positive economic changes to our beloved mother zambia.
Hola hai, long time, anyhow I concur fully with “decision marker” the street people see no tribe, and if you have observed this blog whenever the issue of tribe is raised, it is always between the Tonga’s and bemba’s. This is a historical think as I understand it stemming from the 1972 choma declaration. But look, this is just on this blog and guess what the fact that some of us use pseudo names on the blog, it does not mean that we are in zambia when we talk tribal, we might actually be neighbours with you in the UK. But I mean like the Zimbabwe issue where people thought the country would slide into civil war, so it is with Zambia, this tribal talk is very superficial so just come back
u can do all the campagn but MMD awina icungulo. Remember Mazoka and Sata were leading but Ronaldo equalised in the last 5minutes and Rooney wrapt things up in the 90th minute to make Man-U champions of both europe and england. so mr mwiinga, not too fast, LPM is coming back for third term in the name of Maurine. Boma ni Boma baba. Liers are only lying and that HH is about to be convicted for motor vehicle theft. LESA KUMULU MMD PESAMBA.
Ba HH will NEVER rule Zambia!! May be he can be a gud MP in southern province not presido!! He is childish and emotional. Look at how he was shaken by LPM’s and Sata’s reconciliation! He is a coward!!!!
The best predicter of future behaviour is past behaviour. We are not fools. We can see right through the Satas the HHs and the clowns in MMD. Sata and HH practice regional politics and thus do not have a national platform. HH, we remember how you were “elected” UPND president. I will leave it at that. Satas past and present undemocratic practices in PF are there for all to see. MMD is a collection of corrupt, self-centered and heartless leaders. Is this truly the only political pool from which we have to select our future president?
The government should do something to reduce the cost of fertilizer. Definately you should. Away from agriculture issues,Magande, I think, fits well to be the president of Zambia.What do you say people? Triblism aside please!!!
You make me sick with your tribalist sentiments!!!!!!! LT I am out of here, until you sort this mess out. I dont think whats here on the blog is a true reflection of the Zambia I know
#13 What is about the Tongas that you wish them to die in masses.You are no different from the Iranian pres who want to eliminate all Jews.Would that put a smile on your face to see dead bodies of children the elderly and so on of a group of people because they are not your tribe?
I definitely have a sense of humour but I find certain jokes are sickening especially this one.
# 35 walasa mudala,however i want to say that SATA is a none entity in the current democratic dispensation.
hh is the man.remaba that 65% of our population are in rural areas and 35% in urban areas. if hh talks of the needs of the rural areas who are mainly farmers and depends on fert,then he will win their hearts.he is our next presido.in 45 days of campaign and 60 days in politics he got 26% and sata campaigning for 1,824 days (5 years) and being in active politics for 15,330 days (42 years) he got 29%.this explains how popular he is.he is the only opposition leader we have.in Lusaka u shud consider work with mumbi phiri munli mp.let her join upnd for 2011.
If these other province’s can afford 2 buy fertilizer wat’s wrong with these BULLS from southern province. HH was just a spokesman 4 the BULLS only because these other provinces didn’t know wat he talked about when he was in this ka small village. This is Y is not going anywhere.TOK on behalf of all zambians.
I get sick and worried when i see people failing to view the political spectrum beyond their tribal tags. If we are develop as a country, the tribe of the next president should not be factor as we continue debatong about the next president. Viewing the political landscape from all angles, i feel HH is a better presidential candidate than those mentioned here. Please let’s look at wat is gud for the nation and our children…tribal sentiments are just taking as backwards.
Mwiinga my dear please teach *****s and illiterates like BUJU that being tribalist does not pay in the modern world . LT once more iam asking, is their a way of censoring some STUPID AND RUBBISH comments on this blog?
TRIBALISM BELONGS TO THE STONE AGE. pliz become mature.
Hakaivotela Heka!!!
mwiki, 70% of registered voters are in urban areas. whats your next statistic.
Kapov your mother must have been menstrating when she conceived you. Cocroach
Popo shut the hell up cocroach
Where can one get the UPND manifesto, does anyone know?
Guys any one with a manual on masturbation. Please help
The fertilizer issue is affecting pipo in all parts of Zambia and I think it has to be looked at seriously.
kapov,mwiki is right.the majority of our rigistered voter are in rural areas.the author is a demograher final year study at unza.a demograher studies among thing how the population is distributed in a country.According to cso and ecz rural population has more pipo mthan urban but urban has a higher density population,but this does not mean than it how more pipo. then when it comes percetage by province. lsk and cb has a higher % but it does not mean than since most urban areas are there then its total population is more than the lest of the country no.cont on the next message.
the whole african more than 55% of its population are in rural areas.the poorer countries like has even a higher % of rural people. This is a reason why many ruling govt spend much of their time compaigning in rural areas. When we come in public lets not jst urge for the saka of it with little information about what we are talking about.on issues of the population i should think am an expert coz i have spend about 3.5 years just studying them. the next text i will explain to u y mazoka and sata lost the election due to lack of understanding the distribution of the population of zed.
Please UNZA demographer will improve your language skills next time. I know english is your second language but it is our medium of communication and you being at UNZA must lead by example. Nevertheless your contribution is sensible.
A wealthy population is a healthy population and healthy can only be achieved if you have enough basic needs and foods on the table. Hence a peasant farmer can only lead a normal life through the fertiliser support programme where most rural people depend. Agriculture is the the key to national development hence HH is right in recommending to government to find a lasting solution to the mess. I hope he will deliver us in 2011
At the same time let the Zambians also look at the health of someone aspiring for the highest post on the land to avoid what we are undergoing through right now. Let LPM recover quickly so that he can continue running the affairs of the nation.
BUJU, I know you are an illiterate bastard but atleast try to have manners like Mwiinga who happens to be your fellow Tonga and try to contribute like the UNZA DEMOGRAPHER. koswe iwe.
Have tried to get some news on what is happening in political circles but nothing serious at the moment. Zedians learn from Israel, they moved forward while Sharon is still unwell on a machine. Most politicians esp. in MMD are in denial. With all due respect, LPM has done his part and the illness is unfortunate at the time when Zed needs him most. I wish God’s intervention in his quick recovery, and should be allowed to retire on medical grounds after hospital. Meantime, Zed should seriously discuss way forward. HH or Magande may be the way forward for now. Someone advise HH to start process, we may have elections early next year. Copy Obama campaign, enlist volunteers on ground.
Popo as long as we have foolish pipo like you, am willing to sacrifice my sobriety to adress you in the language you understand best. To be as rough and crude as possible so that i hit you where it hurts most. Cocroach.
Most of you chaps like popo, buju and them sound like frustrated unza students who have realized they will never graduate from the institution and the best is to cause confusion and have the sku closed time and again. spare us the insults and grow up! You are real lumpens and dont deserve even the little education you have. QUANGALAZ!