Thursday, March 28, 2024

Be Truthful and help find solutions to Impeding Maize Shortage

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President Edgar Lungu and his entourage inspects the maize field which is critically hit by drought, will effect 2015/2016 harvest season today.
President Edgar Lungu and his entourage inspects the maize field which is critically hit by drought, will effect 2015/2016
harvest season today.

By David Kapoma

I note with concern that politicians and other stakeholders have continued politicalizing the anticipated importation of maize grain from South America with misleading statements.

It is sad that stakeholders especially politicians are accusing government officials and the president of issuing contradicting statements over the capacity of maize in the country despite all of them assuring the nation that we have enough maize in the reserves to last until the next harvesting season.

It is important for the citizens to realise that the president and his ministers are all saying the one thing that the country has enough grain and no Zambian will go hungry. The citizens need to understand that the anticipated importation does not factor in the maize that is yet to be harvested for the current farming season.

In as much as it is true that action is needed to address the 200,000 metric tonnes deficit, it is gratifying that government has assured the nation that the country has enough stock in the reserves to last until the next harvest season meaning that as we harvest in the next season the country may have enough grain and may not need to import the grain as anticipated.

Just like any Zambian, the stakeholders must concentrate on providing solutions to the problem rather than criticising even when it is not necessary. All stakeholders must show genuine concern and avoid misleading the nation with negative statements that have the potential of causing panic among the citizens.
Going forward I want to urge the government to seriously consider investing in irrigation farming and empower small scale farmer with equipment to enable them engage in irrigation farming in order for them to effectively contribute to mitigating the impact of climate change.

Finally I want to remind politicians and indeed other stakeholders that we all have a duty to disseminate the right information to the citizens and avoid alarming the nation with untruthful statements. The politicians especially those in the opposition must show leadership during a time like this and provide solutions to the current administration rather than cerebrating about the anticipated food shortage.

David Kapoma
Governance Activist

16 COMMENTS

    • David Kapoma, opposition and HH specifically has been telling PF not to export maize from as far back as July last year. In Today’s Post I read Muntanga advising PF to facilitate the growing of an extra 200 000 metric tonnes which ZNFU estimate will be the shortfall..what kind of leadership are you expecting from the opposition. Edgar Lungu has no capacity for such matters. his pre-occupation at the moment is re-election

  1. PF lied to us with 90 days promises.

    PF lied to us about the Constitution

    PF lied to us about Satas illness

    PF lied to us about 500, 000 jobs

    Why should we now believe what they are saying about enough food?

    Has this leopard changed its spots?

  2. Its you Kapoma who is misleading yourself. Where did you get the 200000 mt from?
    Kadansa & Inonge have said they are going to import. Lubinda & his deputy have said they are not importing. Is it opposition within PF?

  3. David Kapoma, you intended to come with a solution but you have ended up being part of the problem. What specifically are you saying in your broad cross-cutting (pointless) article?

  4. KAPOMA Please stop dreaming. The cost of irrigation equipment and implements is beyond the reach of many in Zambia. Stop visiting arcades, manda hill, keg and lion at east park mall and visit SARO, IRRITECH, AMIRAN and many more agric companies.

    The cost of putting up a hector of water saving dripping irrigation system very expensive and not to mention the Centre Pivot irrigation system that requires millions of litres from reservoirs to run.

    • So what is your point with all this pessimism? The writer is appealing to Zambian opposition to stop using the current situation in the country for votes. To work with the government in preventing citizen Fear and anxiety.

      Irrigation has been banded about as a possible solution to the drought conditions we face. What really is your criticism in relation to the expense surely they should find some kind of middle ground?

  5. Just one look at how the people in the picture are standing in that maize field tells you none of the has ever held a HOE in their lifetime, and this article in not any different either in content or in its articulation of issues.

    • @ hogwash his point is that you are supporters of a very nasty horrible party. You wish to harm this country and straight hearted citizens are weary of you and are beginning to voice their concerns with opposition parties.

  6. All HH and UPND want to hear is that there is food shortage and pipo are losing lifes. As this will give them votes. Anything good is bad news to them as that will push them away from state house. Even receiving rains is bad news to them. WHAT KIND OF PIPO ARE THESE?

  7. Kapoma are you looking for a job from ECL or are just ashamed that your three bosses were contradicting each other. Ba Mosco Putin nobupuba your PF has been warned so many times not to sale maize to countries like Zim that is not paying while our students sleep hungry in higher institutions of learning and you want to find issues with the opposition. You have failed to deliver that is all.

    • @tinta citizens like you are just noisemaking; really all this pessimism is just nonsense talk against the government. Since you don’t like Zambia much, GO somewhere else where you will be much happier. Zambians would be foolish and regret voting in any other party then PF because the opposition is a disorganised bunch of name-calling unimaginative mostly foreign-based disloyal citizens with unclarified alternatives they don’t seem able to communicate. They have other masters other than the citizens who would vote them in.

  8. Well its not just politicians who need to be truthful. Here in Nkeyema District.- Western Province…….
    we the locals have seen a district Community Development Head coming together with a well known local crooked woman called Grace… the food security programme has been hijacked by this Nawa Muuzu Mulopo and Grace. Beneficiaries names have been altered with in Kamangango, Sipopa, Kangolongolo and many other areas… for there own benefit. The Original names have been changed and have inserted ghost beneficiaries. She has even employed locals to do her Maize fields. We have reported to the Juniors @Comdev office. But they are scared of her. So its not just the politicians but even the government workers are culprits.

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