Senior Chief Nzamane of the Ngoni speaking people of Chipata district has advised Zambians not to take the removal of fuel and maize subsidies as a human rights issue.
Chief Nzamane says despite the decision by government to remove subsidies on the two important sectors of the economy there is need for Zambians to accept the decisions and adopt to the changes.
The traditional leader told ZANIS in an interview in Chipata today that the debate on subsidies should be handled with care by both government and the citizens.
He explained that government will continue taking bold steps aimed at saving national resources in order to have a stable economy.
Senior Chief Nzamane however noted that the decision by government was not done at a right time especially that the agriculture sector is likely to be affected by the reduction in the crop harvest.
He said government would have consulted relevant authorities for them to carryout sensitizations for people to fully understand the rationale behind the decision to remove the subsidies before implementing it.
He cited the subsidy on maize that it was a well known fact when the programme of Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) that it was going to end as it was meant to help vulnerable farmers with start up packs just for a period of time.
Senior Chief Nzamane stated that it was for this reason that people needed to be reminded that the programme was meant for farmers to graduate and stand on their own.
He added that the abrupt action will affect the small scale farmers who did not prepare for the change.
Meanwhile, the traditional leader has cautioned his subjects against selling all their produce without storing some for consumption.
He noted that the subjects should instead adopt the new metal silo technology to enhance the storage of crops.
He explained that many farmers in his chiefdom were forced to sell all their produce due to lack of proper storage facilities.
Senior Chief Nzamane added that this was why the new metal silo project introduced by the Effective Grain Storage for Better Livelihoods of African Farmers would go a long way in addressing the post harvest losses being experienced.
ZANIS
I beg to differ with my Chief, if an action deprives someone of food is taken, how does that not become a human rights issue. here in the west once you are out of a job the government subsidizes you by giving you unemployment benefit payment or food stamps if you like all from the tax payer because the understand that this SUBSIDY is a human rights issue. So these same people should not be allowed to come and stop you from the very things which they practice.
Even our own traditional way of life is based on SUBSIDIES so custodians of our traditional values should be seen to strengthen these and not weaken them
These tuma Ngoni Chiefs. What is there problem??? Ngonis are hard working and brave but their chiefs are the opposite. Mpezeni is supposed to be in jail for having raped a young girl. He should watch his mouth even in 2016 he can be tried.
Ka Mpezeni uselss now Chi Nzamane.
But mwe mfumu ,how do they remove subsidies but live middle men making huge profits from supply of Fuel and fertiliser.
Recommendations on The energy commission of inquiry was to cut off middle men ,to reduce landing.
Only a demented fool can speak what this chief has spoken. Small wonder that chiefs are losing respect by the day among their subjects. Nobody in their right frame of mind can have confidence in such a chief. Chiefs will lose their value as long as the likes of Nzamane and Nkomeshya continues to mock and provoke the people.
Hello! Can someone arrest these chiefs for the senseless slaughter of leopards. We cannot allow these chiefs to continue killing endangered species for skins in the name of tradition. ZAWA, please wake up and do your job. Just counting these chiefs in the picture, I can tell that Zambia lost at least five leopards just to clothe these ngoni chiefs. This must stop.
I think it is shallow to criticize the chief in the manner some you of have. There is wisdom in what the chief has said. Even babies need to be weened off at a certain stage. My only worry is that I cannot and I repeat, I cannot trust the PF government with tax payers’ money. They have already proven that they are irresponsible and reckless. For example the useless commissions of inquiry, the recalling of diplomats on partisan grounds, the the causing of expensive by-elections, haphazard creation of new districts the list is endless. Moreover, we have seen how they lied when they where campaigning for goodness sake only the naive can believe them that the money saved from subsidlingies will go towards infrastructure building. Once beaten twice?