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Frank Mutubila outlines government’s worry on Zambian poverty

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FILE: Ambassordor Frank Mutubila presents his credentials to the President of Italy Giogio Napolitano

Zambia’s Ambassador to Italy, Frank Mutubila says the high levels of poverty in the country still remains a concern for the Zambian government.

Mr. Mutubila said despite a number of interventions by the government and other international organisations, poverty has continued being a huge challenge.

The Ambassador noted that poverty and the global rising food prices are a source of concern.

He was Ambassador Mutubila was speaking during a presentation of his credentials to the President of The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Dr Kanayo Nwanze in Rome, Italy.

Mr Mutubila also said climate change is being felt across the globe and Zambia was no exception as evidenced by the recurrent droughts and floods.

The ambassador stated that Zambia remains resolved to continue working with IFAD in trying to address the many challenges facing small scale farmers in the country especially women empowerment in project activities.

He explained that the government of Zambia places agriculture as a top priority not only in the provision of food production but also to provide the much needed employment.

Meanwhile, Dr Nwanze noted that climate change will affect food production and cause the escalation of food prices in the world.

Dr Nwanze has since called on countries to have strategic food reserves for their nationals in order to avoid hunger.

The president said government should be responsible for buying crop harvests from farmers instead of allowing business people to buy from farmers at give-away prices.

“In terms of post-harvest challenge, I am aware that most African countries lack storage facilities for farm produce and most countries with surplus grain such as Zambia have seen some produce go to waste”, said Dr Nwanze.

The president has urged countries to put measures in place to address this challenge adding that youths should take up and not view it as a dirty job.

Dr Nwanze also said that there is need to sensitise the young people to understand that farming is a big sector that can cushion employment problems.

He indicated that IFAD has a program for 2013 that will be focusing on improving rural financing for farmers in Africa.

ZANIS

28 COMMENTS

  1. poverty?? with k1.4billion for the first lady, having unbudgeted for by elections?, u r gonna continue begging like that?? its so shameful and embarrasing sir. check urselves out and sort ur practices and attitude.

  2. #3 get over yourself. 1.4 billion has been explained to you. further more if 1.4 was put in the economy how far do you think it will go. 1.4 is almost standard cost of a good house in lusaka. 1.4 billion is just about USD 280,000.00.

    • And why are you so upset? the biggest issue is about what the constitution say on such issues, yes lets have something in the constitution and no one will complain, in fact the money involved is too little, we can even encourage the govt to give more money to that office. But for know since its not part of our constitution its stealing and whoever is supporting is a fool and an enemy of democracy. They can fool some people some time but not all the people all the times.

    • The 1.4 billion tax payers money given to Kaseba is day light robbery. It is theft of the highest order and is no different from the matrix the Faat Desk lawyer Nchito and the PF vuvuzela accounts clerk turned scribe Mumebe earned dollars pretending to prosecute FTJ….

  3. How much has Ukwa allocated to Himself and family in the 2013 budget? More than what RB got in 3 yrs. 100% salary, 1.4 billion House, 1.4b Kaseba, 15bilion RDA, add the rest. This is a pro-poor minded budget indeed!

  4. zoona abemba ni asilu, nkote yosila ati ambassador, nanga bafana bakasebenze liti? this is really a govt of vima old pipo who have outlived their usefulness, kukonda ndalama bati nama bold heads, finance minister chimozimozi, bena nkandu luo bonse besila kale, shame, vima recycled pipo. mwanya 2016 muchoke.

  5. on the one hand poverty, on the other hand huge mineral wealth…
    every boby knows why…
    even PF leaders close their eyes on corruption and looting
    unfortunatly Zed is rotten…

  6. It’s  only in Zambia where certain people feel that the over 60s have nothing to contribute. In some countries, you are still valued even after retirement. Knowledge and experience gained over the years are appreciated.In my country woe unto to you if you are over 60, you ought to be thrown on the shelf and never to be dusted. Who ever said a young brain is the only one with tangible ideas

  7. Mr. Mutubila said “despite YOU KNOW, a number of YOU KNOW interventions by YOU KNOW the government and other YOU KNOW international organisations, poverty YOU KNOW has continued being YOU KNOW a huge challenge”.

  8. Why does Zambia need an embassy in Italy and UK and France? Just have one in Europe, period. All Frank Mutubila does is talk, I cant pinpoint one thing he did for Zambia.

  9. 6 flag draifish I can build you 6 three bedroomed houses out of K1.4b.You can pay for 100 students at UNZA, can pay 3 Mutubila’s in the Embassies! List can go on….

  10. Hatred is very disgusting and bringing our nation down. Frank is a well qualified man who [performed his work at ZNBC professionally. What is wrong with you fuus kanshi?

  11. Hey guys lets go to BBC African football in numbers and vote for Chris Katongo for African Footballer of the year 2012. There are only 5 shortlisted names and results will be announced on Dec 13, 2012. Let us not allow our friends outvote our man! You can vote on BBC African Football page or send a text message The winner will be decided by African football fans, who have until 1830 GMT on Thursday, 13 December to vote for their choice.

    “You can either vote via this page or by sending an SMS from your phone to +44 7786 20 50 75:

    Text 1 for Demba Ba

    Text 2 for Younes Belhanda

    Text 3 for Didier Drogba

    Text 4 for Christopher Katongo

    Or Text 5 for Yaya Toure”
    Reply

  12. Mr. Mutubila,
    I have known you for some good years ago when Zambia was my second home country as a refugee. I have always admired the maturity from your contributions in media. I am also a journalist, operating now from home, I proudly mean Rwanda. I love Zambian people for they were kind enough to keep me alive until I found a way back home. Now I would like to interact with you for some sharable matters. You do great for Zambia, but Frank your wisdom is exportable to other places has done great for Zambia My email is “[email protected]”. I am waiting for you feed back.
    Geraldine M.

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