GOVERNMENT has not allowed the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) to conduct a farming input distribution programme similar to the one that Government is executing.
Agriculture minister Given Lubinda said in Parliament yesterday that Government had not allowed FDD president Edith Nawakwi to conduct a farming distribution exercise to farmers which is similar to the Farmers Input Support Programme (FISP).
Ms Nawakwi, last week, launched a farming input distribution programme valued at K500, 000 to benefit 300 farmers in various parts of the country.
The programme is similar to FISP that Government through the ministry of agriculture was undertaking benefiting over one million farmers.
“Government is not aware of the programme, its objective, coverage and this is an irregularity which the FDD president should correct by registering this exercise with the Registrar of societies,” Mr Lubinda said.
Mr Lubinda said this in response to the question raised by Patriotic Front (PF) Kapiri Mposhi Member of Parliament (MP) Eddie Musonda who wanted to know whether the FDD a political party was allowed to conduct a programme similar to the FISP by Government.
He said for any person who wished to conduct such a programme should register with the Registrar of Societies and inform the ministry of agriculture to avoid duplication of the programme.
A search at the Registrar of society revealed that there was no Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) registered to conduct such a programme.
Mr Lubinda clarified that the programme would not interfere with the nationwide FISP benefiting one million people while the programme by FDD only benefits 300.
He said if the programme was being done in good faith, the FDD should inform the ministry, just like other organisations were doing to ensure there was no duplication of beneficiaries.
MMD Kasempa Member of Parliament (MP) Kabinga Pande questioned the minister if Government would allow the FDD to continue with the programme if it informed Government.
Mr Lubinda said Government could not stop the FDD depending on the objective behind the programme.
Meanwhile, Home Affairs deputy minister Panji Kaunda said the riots in Roan and Mpatamatu townships last week were caused by the miners who were demanding payments of the dues and improved condition of service from the Chinese mining company.
Col Kaunda dismissed ascertains that the riots were politically motivated.
He told the House that three people were arrested and charged with conduct likely to cause the breach of peace.
Col Kaunda said this in response to the question raised by MMD Mpongwe MP Gabriel Namulambe who wanted to know what caused the riot in the two townships and the measures that Government was undertaking to ensure that similar incidents do not reoccur.
1USD = 361.10 ZIM DOLLAR.
IUSD = 500.00 MALAWIAN KWACHA
1USD = 13100 ZAMBIAN KWACHA or is it 13.10 rebased.
Check ypur steps,zimbabwe is rising
Bati Kwena Ba Fi color ba onaula ichalo. All I can say
Does the ZIM DOLLAR still exist???
Amalaiti. You have conveniently omitted the fact that a US dollar was equivalent to several million Zim dollars at one time. If the Zim dollar is now 361.1 to US dollar it must have been rebased several millions over.
Which Zim Dollar is this? As at this moment, my friend in Zim is shopping using US$ and Rands.
Does the FDD have to get permission from the government to provide help to small scale farmers? PF are just upset that someone else is able support farmers in whatever little way. It like saying if Edith (or anyone else) finds a person starving, they need to first contact government to ask if it is okay to feed the individual. What a shame?
At this rate, you are going to need to ask the government to allow you to go to the toilet to avoid doing it at the same time the Ministers are doing it!
@ Cat Power kekekekeke, ati Ba Fi Color? But they are lucky that you are not in that parliament discussing fertilizers for 300 peasant farmers.
Im a Zambian millionaire $$$ based in Switzerland working for a bank. I was planning to provide farming implements and inputs similar to what edith nawakwi is doing as a way of contributing towards the betterment of mother zambia for the education I recieved for free. I then have to withhold my money (Zambian government is too rich) or channel it to Botswana as my mom is Tswana. Hard luck.
I do donate to the vulnerables at times as an individual. Do I need to register as careless donor enterprise to avoid duplications? Politics also.
I am surprised LT doesn’t know that Namulambe is a PF mp!
Lubambe is PF MP!He politically prostituted 3 yrs ago.
Lubinda just tell the nation that Nawakwi’s Ngo is becoming popular among beneficiaries than yo fisp which has distributed fertilizer only with no seed, but her Ngo has distributed both fertilizer and seed at the same time,yo program is still struggling to pay farmers their labour frm FRA frm maize supplied
Good morning @VICTOR L Jacob, It’s too early to be laughing. What? Distributing fertiliser with no seeds. Lol. Mwine Mushi and Kasaka should act this scene out.
@Amalaiti please check your facts before you informed the nation with wrong and lies statistics. For your information there is no Zimbabwe dollar, they use American dollar. The exchange rate in Malawi is 820MK to 1US dollar.
Pio, as usual you are wrong.
Zimbabwe Dollar is still official currency of Zimbabwe.
Get your facts right before commenting.
Check zim dollar at ****
U r behind my friend. Yes pipo use american dollars but those who saved in zim dollars have gained back value for their money. The zim dollar is on the rise. We should not be ashamed.
Laughing at zimbabwe yet we dont see that our friends are working big time
On malawi i have confirmed your observatoion. Its now 850 to 1usd….but they never rebased. Lool at us..mm…..13100
PF ARE SO FRIGHTENED THAT THEY SCARED OF THEIR OWN SHADOWS BECAUSE UNEMPLOYMENT IS STARING IN THEIR FACES. WHAT IS WRONG WITH HELPING THE NEEDY IN OUR SOCIETY? IT IS RIGHT FOR MRS. LUNGU TO DONATE ABUSING PUBLIC RESOURCES BUT IT IS WRONG FOR NAWAKWI TO DONATE USING HER OWN RESOURCES! WHAT LOGIC IS THAT, LUBINDA? I HAVE ALWAYS CONSIDERED YOU TO BE A FULU.
My only question is where did Ms Nawakwi acquire these millions from? Mind you she was a government minister. Her gratuity was less than K 500 000.
@Mano Mambulwa, Nawakwi is exposing them by giving a full “farming package”. They are in charge but they are dishing out fertiliser without seeds according to @VICTOR L Jacob. LOL. Good question as to whether Mrs. Lungu registered her “offices” as well as she into “charity work”. Mr. Lubinda should answer that. What a govt!! Scared of their own shadows indeed.
Imagine these are the silly questions you people in Kapiri Mposhi your Patriotic Front area MP is asking the Agriculture Minister; about FDD…it really makes my skin crawl.
Put things into perspective people. That amount is a fraction of what Nawakwi’s ventures rake into her kitty. Secondly, what this move is doing is pulling politics out of people’s livelihood. You do not legislate goodwill – you just don’t! You facilitate it!!! Let her reach out and roll out the official programs alongside in governed fashion. Government has not even explained to us what financial implications their ill-fated milling plants have on our funding and sustainability aspects as a nation! So only you should challenge the private sector unfettered, huh?
Didn’t know Lubinda was this shallow in thinking.
I thought Nawakwi had a registered political party called FDD, does she need to re-register the same organisation under the stupid NGO Act again? We have seen PF making donations as a political party, is it registered as NGO as well? Ninsonifye baumfwa because she is demonstrating how her govt would conduct their business. After all PF govt has reduced the number of beneficiaries under farmer support programme and so she is trying to supplement govt efforts.
Edith!!!!!!!!Handouts? Or loans?
Nawakwi is the most sensible politician with a heart for the poor, sick and down trodden! Lubindwa must be feeling sick and dizzy whenever he hears the name Edith being mentioned!!
Imagine Lubinda distributing fertilisers when there are no seeds – so how does he think a zelous farmer would use that fertiliser when he hasn’t planted anything! With PF, everything is chaotic – they never plan for anything EXCEPT those master PLANS to STEAL from their Govt!!
So is Lungu. The only problem is that he is surrounded with people like Lubinda.
So PFools will not allow anybody to help starving Zambians unless PF is gaining politically from that exercise! In PF we have the proof why politics in Africa fails to improve lives. These are the most selfish bunch of thieves ever to run a government. I particularly dislike the sneering attitude PF had towards farmers who they contemptuously call bakachema. They try and sell exploitatively priced fertilisers and then want to control the prices at which the same bakachema want to sell their maize and mealie meal.
Expect Ester Lungu of course!!
At times lets be civil, Ester lungu does work that we have Govt officials paid for. PF distributes bicycles does anybody make noise, so whats the fuss abt wat FDD is doing its benefiting the poor even if its political. Dull MPs
There is no problem in distributing whatever madam Nawakwi is doing or plans to do. The problem is that when you start doing what she is proposing to do, you must register or donate to the disaster management team. If you do not trust the Govt. then you must register, any country worth anything has rules and no body just wakes up and distributes things whatever they are. Can you Imagine a lawyer like kabimba waking up one day and starts distributing panados or antibiotics and all sorts of medicines to people in the rural areas? To avoid anarchy it is important to have a channel for doing these things and these channels are there. Register a Charity organization and distribute your fertilizer without seed as much as you can. Or register a company to sell your products to the rural areas.
HAS YOUR LUNGU REGISTERED WITH THE REGISTRAR OF SOCIETY TO BUILD HIS CHURCH WHERE HE WANTS TO BE WORSHIPED AS GOD? WHILE THE MONEY TO BUILD THE CHURCH WILL COME FROM THE TREASURY, IS IT PROVIDED FOR IN THE BUDGET? FOR LUNGU IT IS NORMAL TO DO THE WRONG THINGS BUT FOR OTHERS IT IS WRONG TO DO THE WRIGHT THINGS, ISN’T THIS ABSURD?
FDD’s certificate of registration is enough. The PF are just upset about being beaten at their own game.
Even praying 4 the sick pa zed we shall need to register lol
PF are out of touch..! Does one need permission to raise fund to help the poor..!
Smugglers are allowed to trade freely, but a politician like our FDD lady cannot raise funds to help the poor.
Edith has shown us that poverty and hunger are a government creation
What FDD does with its resources does not concern government officials. Private entities are free to utilize their resources in the way they see appropriate. That is the meaning of democracy. Government is accountable to the people but private entities are only accountable to themselves. However, if private individuals are found in possession with proceeds of crime, then the law must go after them until they follow the law. Dealing with crime belongs to law enforcement officers, including Police and ACC. It seems to me that there is an information gap between FDD and PF. Let the two political parties learn to live together in peace and harmony.
How can a normal person co-exist with low life MPs like Lubinda? Little did I know that Lubinda is so ignorant and fo.olish!
I know I am not the only one so disappointed with Given Lubinda – this is what you would expect from people like Kambwili and the semi retired se.x worker Nkandu Luo!!
Other Edith Nawakwi and Antonio Mwanza, are there any other office holders in FDD? I have never heard anybody apart from these two talking on behalf of the party. Can I please be educated on the executive composition of the FDD.
This is mow a war against those who will benefit from the program. Take it easy!
The debate is of low caliber to say the least. How can an MP be worried about 300 agnist the failure to leave upto expectations for the million farmers
Don’t worry Hon Lubinda. If she is helping let her help. Government can not so everything
Namulambe is pamafi. If the law requires Edith to register such a program, then she must just do it but I doubt if she needs permission from Lubinda’s ministry to help farmers. There are many individuals who are helping farmers as well wishers and therefore, no need to inform anyone. Obviously Edith has done her homework and will be helping the same farmers who are already gettting help from PF
well i just want t ask the Lusaka times staffs to put their record straight.Namulambe is not MMD MP,but Power failure (PF) Thanx