PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Edgar Lungu has pledged to address the problem of late payments to farmers for produce supplied to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
Addressing a rally in Katete where he shared the podium with former President Rupiah Banda yesterday, Mr Lungu apologised to the farmers for late payment for maize supplied to FRA and promised that the matter will be resolved.
Mr Lungu also promised to address the issue of the tobacco market which has been a challenge for farmers.
He also pledged to resolve the water crisis so that residents can have access to clean water and sanitation.
Mr Lungu promised that water reservoirs will be built in Katete so that people can have safe drinking.
He said other than improving water, he will ensure that more schools are built and those under construction are completed so that every Zambia can have access to quality education.
He said as an educated young leader, he wants farmers, marketeers and young people to get educated so that they can manage their social and economic activities.
He pledged to honour campaign promises.
Mr Lungu urged all ministers to work hard.
He said any minister who will fail to perform in his Government will be sacked because people want clean drinking water, quality education and an improved agriculture sector among others, promises that can achieved as a team.
Mr Lungu, who doubles as minister of Justice and Defence, also promised to expand education opportunities for all Zambians.
“I will work for Zambians and ensure that every Zambian has an opportunity to get an education,” he said.
Mr Lungu also chided Chongwe Member of Parliament (MP) Sylvia Masebo over her remarks that he is sick and should go for medical tests.
And Mr Banda urged Zambians to vote for Mr Lungu as way of honouring late President Sata’s legacy of promoting love and unity among Zambians.
Mr Banda, who was drumming support for Mr Lungu in Katete yesterday, urged all Zambians to vote for PF for peace and unity.
He said late President Sata was his personal friend who wanted to ensure that the country develops and remained united under the banner of ‘One Zambia, One Nation’.
He said that it is sad that since he endorsed the candidature of Mr Lungu, he has been labelled as tribal but veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga was not similarly labelled when he endorsed United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema’s candidature.
Mr Banda said whatever differences he had with President Sata and the PF were resolved and metaphorically remarked that ‘even trees rub against each other but remain in the same forest’.
He called on Zambians to campaign against any MMD MP who will not support the candidature of Mr Lungu.
He said MPs who are forcing him to support Mr Hichilema should think twice because the same leader was busy telling him that he was too old to be in politics.
Mr Banda said as a united force, PF and the MMD are unstoppable at this stage.
In Chipata, Mr Lungu reiterated that he will enact a new constitution if elected presidents.
Addressing a public rally with Mr Banda yesterday, Mr Lungu said when he became minister of Justice, he released the final draft constitution and will give the Zambians the final constitution once he is voted into office.
Mr Lungu rebutted claims that he will drop charges slapped on Mr Banda if elected president but said the courts will decide whether the former head of state is guilty or not.
He said Mr Banda is free to join politics and there is no law that stops him from doing so.
Mr Lungu reiterated that those evading taxes will have to pay what is due to the country.
And Mr Banda said criticising him over his support for Mr Lungu will not deter him from ensuring that the PF retains power in this month’s poll.
Mr Lungu’s campaign team earlier held another rally in Chadiza.
And Mr Lungu has pledged to address problems people of Mafinga are facing such as the poor state of roads if elected president
.
Addressing a public rally in Mafinga as he concluded his 12-day campaign trail in Muchinga Province on Monday, Mr Lungu pledged to continue with programmes initiated by late President Sata
He bemoaned the poor state of roads and pledged to work on them if elected president
His campaign team was received by MMD Mafinga MP Catherine Namugala who immediately took him to meet two chiefs.
Ms Namugala who has endorsed Mr Lungu’s candidature said people should vote for him because he is the right candidate.
And Mr Lungu has promised that milling plants will be established countrywide to reduce the cost of doing business in the agriculture sector.
And Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mkhondo Lungu who is also Lundazi Central MP with his Lumezi counterpart Isaac Banda have endorsed Mr Lungu’s candidature.
Mr Lungu told the crowd that braved a down pour at Lundazi’s Kaunda Square ground on Monday that farmers are getting a raw deal from their maize because of middlemen.
Mr Lungu said setting up of milling plants will be done in-conjunction with the private sector who are also key economic players in maize marketing.
He also apologised to Lundazi residents who were evicted by the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) from the game management area last year saying the measures taken were inhuman.
The KUMAWA CARTEL. Lungu has jokes. Now he acknowledges the failures of the PF regime. What will they do different? This is just campaign rhetoric. The damage is done the poor farmers have suffered enough its time for Zambia to move on PF has to go
One would need to be insane to believe that PF will address the problem of late payments to farmers and build reservoirs when they have failed to do so during their time in power.
You were given a chance and it has taken Sata to die for you to apologise for your mistakes.
Too many lies. Change of government is on the way
Viva HH
This Edgar Vodka Lungu (EVL) is an evil man. The drunk and his friends have been in power for 3 years and failed then to pay farmers on time, they failed to deliver constitution, they removed subsidies, they curtailed personal liberties, embarrassed the Chitimukulu and eavesdropped other chiefs (Sata’s own admission) and now this digressed lawyer, once debarred by LAZ can come and talk this nonsense. 20th Jan is just HH
just pay the poor farmers,,,,, too much stupidi promises
A People’s popular choice is our Republican President H.E. Lungu. Any Zambian not supporting or voting EL in the 20th January, 2015 bye-election is unpatriotic and a vote shredder.
Under prevalent situation, it is only patriotic in Zambia to support stability, national unity, peace, security, development and inclusiveness the servant leadership of EL represents.
Let EL mop up votes and seal a landslide victory in retaining the PF mandate. They have gained good ruling traction in national development and learnt to correct past mistakes. We have no time as a country to condone Job on Training leadership within the 5 year PF mandate. EL will constitute and supervise a team of best Zambian sons and daughters in technocrats to escalate national development.
Yes He will. he will have power to do, previously he was but under the direction of his boss, now he will be boss. So he will do it
Too many promises! These are the promises PF made to the people last elections. EL is not saying the truth. Sata did not promote love and unity. He practiced tribalism, nepotism which is the opposite of unity. If he had practiced unity Zambia would not be in the political mess it is in. Parties have become regional. Everyone goes on about HH (who I’d not support by the way) and UPND being tribal. PF has always been tribal and still is, KU Mawa.
Can someone please do something about Lungu’s appearance. I combed hair, shirt like he slept in it. He is worse than Sata who never wore a suit properly.
@Ndobo pay farmers with what? Where is money, the PF President can’t even afford to buy a comb for his own hair??
The strange thing is that they declared a bumper crop ahead of schedule.(which it wasn’t)…then why didn’t they plann for the payments of such? All arguing should ask thenselves this very question and the answer is self explanatory.
Emmanuel Chenda has deliberately mismanaged the agriculture sector to disadvantage EL.Some serious healing needs to be done to overcome this curse,unfortunately,time is not on EL’s side.Canvas whatever votes he can from the farmers and focus on the numbers in the urban areas.
@Zamcab 2 you are right!!
This is the REASONING I expected from you. Its good to accept defeat.
Lungu has to HUMBLY accept DEFEAT and SAY “guys we tried vinashupa chabbe”!.
#FLIGHTHH2015 HAPPAY JUBILEE ZAMBIA.
The battle line has been drawn.It will be a tough race.I SIDO MARK would like to Say this”HH WILL WIN THIS RACE ON 20TH JANUARY,2015″.Mark my words.Look at the 2008 results and the 2001 results and marry the two scenarios then make your own conclusion.I don’t want to give PF a leakage,but let the wise know and those with eyes see and those with ears hear.HH will double what Mazoka and Mwanawasa got.Remember that Chiluba won without eastern,Mwanawasa won without Copperbelt,northern ,Luapula,and Lusaka.Mazoka won without Copperbelt,Lusaka,Luapula,Nothern and eastern.If this is true then do your research.The 2015 election were already decided before Sata died.The reason Lungu will loose is 1.the chitimukulu issue2.the tribalism exhibited by Sata.
The current minister of agriculture is Wilbur Simuusa. Given a question in a grade 7 exam on this, you would fail it.
Please someone to help…Is this man, one Edgar Lungu from the opposition or from the party that has been in GRZ for the past 3 yrs. He is promising to do that and this when elected into office. He has appologised for not paying the farmers without giving reasons why this has taken long.
Question; let him tell the nation what will happen to RB’s benefits since he has actively involved himself in politics? Only hope he wont say the courts of law will determine.
I am totally in agreement. Farmers are languishing yet EL can’t explain why they were not paid on time. RB’s benefits you ask? Weall know the reason the former head of state has joined PF is for many reasons one being that his benefits will continue.
And believe me the way RB and EL have acquired money for this election (crooked means) the latter will be forever indebted to the former so benefits will continue to flow.
And where will EL get money to carry out all the promises he has made? Isn’t the country in debt? Hasn’t the PF government borrowed extensively?
Nso his whole party think they are in opposition even their so called supporters that’s why even here you can see some of them supporting the same promises made to them three years ago ati now he will be in charge, he will be the boss. Exactly what they said about Sata but look what happened increased tribalism, nepotism, borrowing, and general mismanagement of the economy – Kabwe Zinc mine being closed, next Lumwana and Chambeshi metals. Open your eyes PF cadres we beg you to think of the country not your tribe!!
Nomata how fast you can run, the truth will find you and this truth is LUNGU IS OUR NEXT PRESIDENT
This crowd looks very sad. The people are not even waving party symbol and they look surprised. As said people just wanted to compare notes. Hope is only in Flight HH2015.
@Zamcab, the first 500,000 mt of maize were paid in record time which was budgeted for. It was the extra 500,000 mt that had delayed payment. And remember that Milling Companies stopped quite early in the marketing season to buy maize.
Inputs have by and large been delivered in record time.
Maize is not agriculture. Please also look at efforts to control animal diseases, restocking of animals, fish farming, putting od 17,000 farmers under irrigation is under implementation.
Credit ought to be given where it is due.
@Ifintu. Don’t lie – BUFI BUFI BUFI BUFI
1. As at mid Nov 2014 it is on record that only about 25% of the total payment had been paid. (Remember 500,000 mt is supposed to be 50%). After pressure, they released three installments in quick succession to bring the total paid to about 75%. As of today, for example, in Serenje PF has only paid K6m out of K28m owed!!!
2. We know most of the inputs they gave out early was what they failed to deliver last season coz they were too too too late!!!
You are funny, do you appear ku play house I come and watch some? Tell that to the farmers who have to plant but have no money for inputs or take their children to school ati the first 500,000 tons was paid on time.
When is he going to sort out the problem? PF is in power and he is talking as if he is in the opposition. It’s just Donchi kubeba. He has even refused to sign the social contract so that he is not held accountable.
Basically Lungu is saying he will be different from the current PF rule yet promising continuity. Lol I never knew Lungu drunk until I saw what he looks like sober. He looks completely out of touch with reality. There can only be two explanations for failing to pay farmers. Either the money was there and the Pf government embezzled it or the government failed to plan and had no idea what they were doing. Either waay it comes down to incompetence and PF has to go.
If it seems good for you to vote for a party which vehemently denied the illness of a sitting president up to his week of death, denied the country a constitution after promising one in 3 months, has cadres who will use cars to plow into opposition crowds and machetes and shovels to coerce people to vote for them, the choice is yours.
As for me and my entire household, we SHALL vote for UPND and its candidate Hakainde “Moses” Hichilema. I am not Tonga or Bemba and strongly believe that there are VERY good humans from both tribal groupings just as there are scum bugs from all tribes of the world. My choice is based on sound reasoning by HH, his humaneness and his refusal to be dragged by racists (called tribalists) into inanities in this crucial election.
Sure if Mr.Banda with state machinery failed to win an election himself,how can he make Mr.Lungu win.Some of these things,you dont need to be a rocket scientist to see that Mr.Banda’s only interest is to see to it that his and his son’s criminal charges are dropped.If you want to help him go scot free,vote for Edgar.
YOU KNOW THE GOOD PROBLEM WITH GOD IS THAT YOU WHO HAS MISTREATED THE POOR, WHEN THEY CRY OUT TO HIM YOU EXPECT A DOWN FALL. EVER SINCE THE CREATION GOD HAS NEVER CHANGED HAS NEVER BEEN IN GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE OPPRESSORS.
POOR PEASANT FARMERS ARE CRYING THAT THEY WILL NOT HAVE FOOD THIS YEAR AND I MEAN FOR THE 14 MONTHS – JANUARY 2015- APRIL 2016 BECAUSE OF PF.
PEOPLE WHY DO WE WANT TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT IS A BUNCH OF POOR FAILURES “P.F” WHO HAVE FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS FAILED TO EMANCIPATE THE VILLAGERS?
EASTERNERS, THINK TWICE. RB WILL NEVER HELP YOU IF YOU SAY ‘NIWAKWASU’.
What reservoirs is he talking about? JBG(Germany) is constructing a dam at a cost of $18m in Katete, some muzungu is doing what you failed to do.
That dam is part of the PF Government programme so the muzungu you see is just a cooperating partner. There are projects that are donor funded and some GRZ funded. Even under any other party in Government there will always be donor funded projects. BUT THESE PROJECTS COME BECUASE THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROACHED THE DONOR TO FUND.
Wake up so don’t think muzungu just builds!
Ba lungu, you promise to continue from the late and you say you will implement his vision. which vision are you going to continue with? late payments for farmers, doing roads, taking 2 universities to one province, no roads in solwezi?
Over out dead bodies will HH rule zambia. Abash tribal politics!let M’membe and his tribal Mweetwa stop lying in his post.if RB supported HH all could have been nice but RB is painted black now for endorsing Edgar Lungu!only a dull man can believe your lies!NO MATTER MANY LIES YOU’LL WRITE IN YOUR POST,IFINTU NI LUNGU AND HE IS 100% WINNING! UPND IS VERY BLIND,HOW CAN YOU SEND MAUREEN MWANAWASA TO FRED M’MEMBE TO ENTER INTO A CARTEL?ZAMBIANS FOUGHT AND DEFEATED THIS CARTEL RECENTLY AND WE SHALL DEFEAT YOUR HH IN 13 DAYS TIME! GO PF GO!
Rupiah Banda wanted his charges dropped as a condition for him to support UPND in case HH wins. When bene HH refused, that is when he went to corrupt Visionless Lungu who agreed. This is in the Post Newspaper and so far I have not heard RB refute it. Ok abena Eddy?
It’s a tad too late!!! Now we need to move forward! !
SO UPND CADRES YOU’RE VERY SURE THAT YOUR HH WILL JUMP FROM HIS 500 000 VOTES TO OVER A MILLION WHICH PF GOT 3 YEAR AGO?WHERE WILL THOSE VOTES FOR HH COME FROM SINCE PF’S STRONGHOLDS ARE VERY INTACT?PLUS NOW RB HAS ADDED MORE VOTES TO PF.BE OBJECTIVE IN LIFE!YOUR HH NEEDS A MIRACLE TO DEFEAT MIGHTY PF!DONT JUST BE OVER CONFIDENT BLINDLY.THE FACT IS YOUR HH WILL LOSE TO PF IN EASTERN,LUSAKA,COPOLA,LUAPULA,NORTHERN,MUCHINGA AND CENTRAL URBAN!THIS IS 100% TRUTH WHICH YOU IN UPND ARE FAILLING TO ADMIT!i see you fainting when your HH lose in 13 days time!
Yes Eddy we are very sure.The UPND camp is not like you who talk a lot wait for 20th January,2015.
lungu will be president? my foot!
people are suffering in lusaka and you think they are fools?
wait for 20th january
…so basically if Mike didn’t die you would be ignoring the farmers like always
… and now your campaign is making vigorous usage of the ‘promise button’ that you promised you would not be using
…and your reconciliations are puzzling and confusing as the issues could have been privately dealt with by adults
…and now you have a new leader in the former rival leader who lost the last election to yourselves (my left brow rises slowly)
Perhaps it is time to show concern. Are you okay, ED?
Instead of promising to clean up FRA and reforming it…..he is talking about payments…I know boys who work there; these boys are involved in exporting of maize abroad even when there is a ban.
There is nothing this imbecile Lungu can do that he has lamentably failed to do in 3 years… the taxpayer are paying this drunk two salaries as a minister to campaign for himself.
Wake up Zambia from your docility! !
what is Lungu and PF saying about RB’s pension benefits?????
Dear countrymen and women. HOW CAN PEOPLE LIKE LUNGU TAKE US FOR GRANTED!! EVEN YOU PEOPLE BUSY EL, EL WHEN YOU CAN’T AFFORD THE BASIC NECESSITIES. THIS GUY IS THE JUSTICE MINISTER, THIS GUY WAS ACTING PRESIDENT. THEY HAVE BEEN IN POWER FOR 3 YEARS. WHAT HAVE THEY DONE???? HE KEEPS PROMISING THINGS HE SHOULD HAVE DONE AND YOU PEOPLE THINK CAN KEEP HIS PROMISE. PF HAS DONE NOTHING BUT BROUGHT MISERY AND DESTROYED THE COUNTRY. ITS TIME WE ALL STAND UP AND SAY NO TO ZAMBIA DESTRUCTION AND YES TO A BETTER ZAMBIA. WHATEVER HAPPENS PLEASE DO ZAMBIA A FAVOUR AND DO NOT VOTE FOR PF.
AS FOR EDGAR, HH IS THE WINNER OF THIS ELECTION AND PLEASE DO NOT TEMPER WITH VOTES. THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR AROUND THE COUNTRY AND HE HAS BY FAR OVERWHELMING SUPPORT.
Its jst come to my attention that MUVI TV opinion poll Question is WRONGLY framed-it asks about the best candidate NOT who will win the elections or who the people will vote for.
In research, the way you frame the question is what determines the outcome. Its very possible for HH to be the best man for the Job but still go to loose the elections based on other factors.
walasa my brother that is true. in research we answer according to the way the question is phrased
And the Past news tissue now feels in a moral position to advise Edgar Lungu to watch RB!
Just as the Past claims that RB has endorsed Edgar on condition that RB’s court cases are dropped, we can safely claim that the Past is advising Edgar just to protect Mmembe from being prosecuted for his various criminal cases and holding Sata hostage during his short rule.
The Past and Mmembe never cease to amaze! To read their brazen stu.pidity, particularly since Kabimba was fired and “Michael” passed on, is what motivates me to buy the Past everyday of the week.
I just enjoy Mmembe’s tribulations, and wish that he gets a chance to dance to the music that he has subjected others to for so long. Please don’t shut the Past, let it collapse of its own transgressions. But do bring them to…
……to JUSTICE!
@Bwana Mkubwa,
FISP Inputs – for 2014/2015 we have 25 maize varieties from 14 last season to suit different soil types in light of climate change. Compound D produced by NCZ. Urea from Saudi Arabia. By the way, NCZ will start production of compound X to be used in place of urea. How is this carry over from 2013/2014 season?
FRA initial exit from maize market at end of August 2014 (500,000), resumed a fortnight later and final exit 7th October 2014 (additional and unbudgeted 500,000mt). As you know other buyers such millers went out of the market leaving farmers stranded with the crop. ZNFU can confirm this. Payment period was 10 days upon delivery. As September 2014, 25% was paid. You can check southern times, ZNFU briefs, etc.
@Bwana Mkubwa, For example CB province 23000 mt worth K32 million bought and K8.2 m paid out as at September 2014. For Chavuma, 749.45 mt bought above target of 350 mt. This surplus has no buyer. Payments are not yet there but they have performed well. Not even private companies could meet 2013/14 payment terms – for me a little over ambitious. However there is room for improvement!
And like I said maize is not agriculture. Other more lucrative sectors can be discussed.
Also irrigation, mechanisation (ZNFU and NATSAVE programme),etc. We also review and access performance in the last 3 years
This is what beer can do to people. We have permanent brain damage in these two drunkards.
If I had my way, I would put this senior thief called Banda behind bars for a long time. How can an old man be dreaming like this.
I feel men like Banda have no room in this country. Can’t we send this man to Malawi so that he lives our country in one piece.
You have to be a f**l to believe this old faggot.
Lungu trying hard to imitate hh but cannot equate to him.
Very poor stratergy!