FDD Spokesperson Antonio Mwanza says a visionary leader cannot allow the depletion of strategic food reserves in the country.
Mr. Mwanza said the Food Reserve Agency is a strategic institution meant to avert any calamities which may arise as a result of food shortages due to drought hence should not have been allowed to deplete its stocks.
He wondered how a normal government can allow what has happened at the agency especially that the problem could have been avoided.
“When President Edgar Lungu said he had no vision, he was right. How else can a visionary leader let his government deplete all it’s strategic food reserves within six months on uncontrolled exports? The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has a primary goal of storing strategic food reserves so that in case of a natural calamity such as a drought, the people should not starve or run to other countries for food,” he said.
Mr. Mwanza further said the agency purchased 200 000 metric tonnes more than the country needed for strategic reserves but that government had carelessly exported everything due to their lack of vision.
“Zambia needs 800 000 metric tonnes of maize for its strategic reserves. Last year FRA purchased 1, 000 00 metric tonnes of maize, 200 000 more than what the country needs. But Mr Chagwa and his visionless government has exported almost everything within six months and now we are stuck. The country is facing starvation not because we do not have enough rains but because our Government has depleted the reserves through careless exports of our maize,” he said.
He also said leaders should not blame nature for their failure to plan.
“Next you will hear cadres saying it’s global or its not President Lungu who creates rains. Sorry it’s not about the rains, it’s about the failure to plan for the future. We had enough maize but we sold it all and that has got nothing to do with whether we have enough rains or not. It has everything to do with whether your leaders have a vision or not,” he said.
What’s the point of CONDEMNING someone who has already owned up to BE VISIONLESS????
Now the price of Nsima will go up, and somebody from Govt will condemn the millers and ask Lungu for price controls. If Lungu makes it this August Kaya. Mr Lungu, Nshima and Zambians is door and door frame so make sure Nsima is affordable in August.
We already have a visionary leader. His vision is that the more we borrow, the more millions the country we have & therefore Zambia becoming a wealthy nation. lol smh
*country will
IWE MWANZA WHY DONT YOU TALK ABOUT THE LIES YOUR PRESIDENT WAS PEDDLING ABOUT DEPUTY MINISTERS ON HOT FM.
THOSE OF YOU WHO THINK LUNGU WILL LOSE IN AUGUST WILL HAVE A SHOCK OF YOUR LIVES WHEN RESULTS ARE ANNOUNCED.
IN JANUARY LUNGU LOST ON SOCIAL MEDIA,WATCHDOG AND MUVI TV.BUT WON THE ELECTION.WAIT AND SEE.
CAN YOUR PARTY GO FOR A CONVETION SO THAT YOUR PRESIDENT GETS A NEW MANDATE?
the topic is about the impending food shortages, have you got nothing to say about that or are you waiting for money in your pockets in 3 months time…..