Vice President Guy Scott has reiterated his assurance to the nation that government will pay all the farmers that sold their maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) by the end of October 2012.
Dr. Scott said government was committed to buying one million metric tonnes of maize and paying all the farmers by the end of this month.
Presenting a ministerial statement in parliament on maize marketing season in the country, Dr. Scott said government has already released the K300 million that was allocated for the maize buying exercise.
He explained that however, government is expected to spend about K1.3 trillion for the 1.2 million metric tonnes of maize.
He disclosed that as at 12th October 2012, government was only remaining with a balance of K924 billion due to be paid to the farmers across the country.
The Vice President added that this was why government has given authority to FRA to borrow money from the private sector just to ensure that all the farmers receive their monies in good time.
Dr. Scott said the three commercial banks that were approached have indicated that they have sufficient money to give FRA for it to pay off farmers.
He explained that in some places the delays to pay are caused because of some paper works involved.
And on who will liquidate the credit, Dr. Scott said government will do that with the help of the money from Euro bond.
He added that government has also put in place measures to ensure that all the maize bought by FRA does not go to waste.
He said government will remove all the maize from satellite depots and transport it to holding depots.
Dr. Scott noted that government was also determined to ensure that strategic modalities are put in place in order to enhance food security in the country.
He further stated that this was why government will ensure that it keeps enough maize that can last for about six months as way of making the country food secure.
Last week, Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini directed Dr. Scott to issue a ministerial statement on the crop marketing season after a point of order which was raised by Monze Central Member of Parliament Jack Mwiimbu of UPND.
ZANIS
The mouthpiece
eurobond being spent on consumption?
I would love to see a white man become president of Zambia
It will show unprecedented economy wise and Zambians would benefit from such a bald move
I hope it happens, seeing he is next in line
Thanks
I would love to see a white-man become president of Zambia
It will show unprecedented economy wise and Zambians would benefit from such a bald move
I hope it happens, seeing he is next in line
Thanks
Guy Scott would make a good president because of his color
His climb to the top would be supported by every Zambia
There would be no tribalism and the UK would support such a bald move
Thanks
just go f**k your white boyfriend
Iwe @mwaya sana no need to get up set.
Zambia surely needs that.These african politicians are full of nothing but hypocrisy.Feed yourself at the expense of the local people.
Way to go ! I
FRA to borrow from banks in order to pay farmers and then govt will settle the created debt by ZRA to Bank? That sounds govt will pay with interest to the banks! Why should be that way? The govt will loose money unnecessarily through that interest. Can the deal be differently handled so that govt does not pay extra money on cheaper grain from farmers. The proposed arrangement will only benefit banks at short notice! wooow.
The trouble with GRZ is that they are too slow in paying the farmers. It’ s no wonder they sell it cheaper to briefcase business men.
I hope he does not utilise this loophole to pay himself government money after ‘burning his condemned grain’ at his farm. History has a way of repeating itself!
Where is our money after selling the two previous bamba harvests? Munagawana kale zone? We see GBM’s trucks contracted by FRA exporting maize from Petauke. No money. How? Just confess kuti boma yatinyela.
Eurobond money to be used for buying maize! Useless government! Borrowing Euros to buy local maize? Kaundanomics is still alive! Poor Zambia you lose again!
So you believe? Lol.
#3, YOU RIGHT WHEN YOU SAY DR GUY SCOTT WOULD BE SUPPORTED BY WHOLE ZAMBIA. BUT, YOU ARE WRONG WHEN YOU SAY HE WOULD MAKE A GOOD PRESIDENT BECAUSE OF HIS COLOR. YES! MAYBE BECAUSE OF HIS COLOR HE WOULD BE WIDELY SUPPORTED BY UK. BUT, IN ZAMBIA GUY SCOTT IS SUPPORTED BECAUSE OF HIS HARD WORK RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER ZAMBIANS. GUY IS TRULY A ZAMBIAN BY DEEDS AND BEHAVIOUR- NOT IN A BAD WAY. BUT, IN ZAMBIA GOOD WAYS YOU AND I KNOW AS ZAMBIANS. GUY HAS ALSO TRAVELLED WIDELY IN ZAMBIA. HE COULD BE THE SECOND PERSON TO WIDELY KNOW ZAMBIA AFTER MICHAEL SATA. WHERE GUY SCOTT HAS BEEN- MOST ZAMBIANS WOULDN’T DARE GO THERE FOR FEAR OF CATCHING DISEASES SUCH AS CHOLERA, ETC. OR SIMPLY BECAUSE THE PLACES ARE TOO REMOTE. I PERSONALLY, TOO THINK HE WOULD MAKE A VERY GOOD PRESIDENT AND I WLD SUPPORT HIM.
‘government has put in place measures’ the most abused phrase by government which is used when government has no clue what to do. How can he say  ‘government was only remaining with a balance of K924 billion due to be paid to the farmers across the country’ “Only” suggest that government was remaining was a smaller share that what has been paid out. Out of K1.3 trillion, government has only released K300 million not billion but million and he calls the  remainder only. This business of borrowing from the banks to buy maize and only to allow it to rot or be exported to neighbouring countries at below cost is a very inefficient and unsustainable policy.
Yes PF, dont use the Eurobond for consumption. Find the market for that maize in good time men. Let us not spend on consumption but on investment.
Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia.
@ Mushota
You reek with such racial inferiority that it wouldn’t surprise me  if you bathed in a whiteman’s faeces and drank his urine. Sometimes I wonder whether you believe the things you write or are just looking for a fight on LT. In any case it is annoying and leaves some of us wondering how your upbringing was. I fear for your children who you will teach to worship and lick the whiteman’s ass.
Humans are humans regardless of colour. I have known brilliant black people just as much as I have known stupid white ones. But then you know that already.
Heye, buy the damn maize white boy, what is holding you man and them people want their money, damn you understand me, boy
Well,the muzunga has always been sincere in his speech but hey-the man is in wrong company.PF has no direction-its a sham,a failed government from inception.
The next time you talk of paying farmers remember to be ashamed of yourself for punishing innocent farmers.
Heya, I feel good men, damn good and aint nothing gonna stop them neggars. Hey, Mushota what is your damn problem with us damn neggars? You hate us neggars and you like them white boys. Hey, girl, you are no good, men, you understand me.
@Mushota#2#3#5 Oya, I see where you are coming from, girl and them whites aint gonna change for you girl. We wanna see what the hell you wanna do with them white boys and them people don’t like you or us neggas, you understand me, girl. I’m aint fooling you girl and the sooner you realise, the better it is for you, girl, you dig that.
Buy all the maize and let it go to waste.Typical of FRA.If you cant keep it,Donate it to Somalia.