UPND President Hakainde Hichilema says the PF administration is a government that “lets things fall apart”before taking action.
Commenting on the government’s decision to ban the export of maize Mr Hichilema said the PF has finally waken up to the realisation that the shortage of maize is a reality several months after the rest of the country.
He said stakeholders including the Millers Association of Zambia called for such a ban but that as usual the PF ignored the advise.
“After much delay the PF has finally woken up to the reality of maize shortages, several months after the rest of the country. Yesterday the government has banned the export of maize and maize products with immediate effect for an initial period of one week.
“This comes more than five months after the Millers Association of Zambia was calling for such a ban and the alarm had already been sounded by many parties, including the UPND, that stocks were being depleted too quickly and that it was necessary to check stock levels as a matter of urgency. The Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF) issued warnings about the dry spell in August 2015. The PF Government chose to dismiss these concerns.
“As the situation worsened in January we made a plea for Government to hear us on this matter, because this is not just a matter of politics but is a matter of food security, and therefore of life and death for some of our most vulnerable citizens. Yet again, no action was taken and our concerns were dismissed,” said Mr Hichilema in a statement posted on his Facebook page.
He said despite the challenge of maize shortages requiring agent attention the PF refused to give the matter the full and urgent attention it required until reports of empty shelves in shops.
“In the weeks that have followed, reports of empty shelves, rationing and rising prices have circulated, but still the PF refused to give the matter full and urgent attention.
“This is a government that lets things fall apart completely before taking any action, whether its maize, electricity or mining. Rather than addressing problems as they arise they bury their heads in the sand until the problem is so big it can no longer be ignored. Those who bear the cost of this ignorance and inaction are the people,” he said.
He further said instead of the ban the country should be taking advantage of the regional market and earn the much needed foreign exchange.
“However the larger issue here is that Zambia should not even be in a situation where it has to ban the export of maize and related products because we can produce food to feed the whole region of 300 million people. This is a market that, had the PF developed and implemented their agriculture policy properly, we could have been sending 5 million metric tons of maize to South Africa, rather than them buying the same from Brazil. Even as we are struggling with our foreign exchange reserves, Government is closing off sources of FOREX,” he said.
Government yesterday banned the export of maize as a mitigating measure to avert the continued shortages of mealie meal in the country.
Rainbow Party leader Wynter Kabimba has charged that God can not choose a drunkard out of all people to lead the nation.
‘I don’t think God can find a man drunk with a bottle of whisky in his hands and He chooses him to lead the people,’ Kabimba argued.
He said even Moses was a sober man when he was chosen by God to lead the Israelites from Egyptian bondage.
Kabimba stressed that people should leave out God in their mistakes and refrain from saying that their leaders (failed politicians) are appointed by God.
And you still have people who sit back, and fail to engage their brains, believing God will give them a leader without any effort of themselves to get a leader of certain caliber… This misinterpretation of Christianity is part of why there is far too much poverty in Africa, with most lazy azzes, especially Zambians. How can you take confidence, and believe some pastor (who is just a psychologist) and say, my finances will be blessed, and I will find a job, without you investing in hard work and education first…Zambians are such a failed African Species.
I think HH has been very consistent on this issue. Edgar and his team has lamentably failed. I doubt they are telling us the truth on load shedding and fuel shortages. But anyway what would you expect when the key advisors to Edgar are Mumbi Phiri, Davies Chama and Chishimba Kambwili? Everything is global!!
I have started liking the HH guy. This man has a heart for Zambia after all its everyone’s wish to live a happy life. I ll give you a vote. I never liked him but look he is attacked and not responding to trash attacks but only concentrating on development. Thats what a leader should focus on. Who doesn’t knnw ECL stole money from a client, However never did HH mention that at all. Thats how focused people live. Successful people live in the present while unsuccessful ones live in the past.
@Katondo boys.
Even EL has never said anything against HH. They all use surrogates like Mumbi Phiri etc on one hand and Zambian Watchdog and The Post to do the dirty talking for them.
@ SM
There is more chance of Kwacha reaching parity with USD than Kudos thinking.
People who grew up where there are no maize bins or groundnuts bins are always a problem to look at food reserves. They claim that they are Christians yet they dont know that Israelites were enticiced to go to Egypt due to excellent food reserves Egyptians have had. Poor Food reserves can lead to enslavement of those who think poorly. Lilalimo apapya walya apabola washa is a bad mentality. FTJ killed this pracrice but LPM brought it back and now we see PF mishandling a well intended practice. Morons think it is global but
TROUBLE IS THE SAME HH WITH HIS FRIENDS ORGANISES SMUGGLING SO AS TO GAIN POLITICAL MILAGE OF, “I TOLD YOU”, IN THE SAME WAY THEY SPONSORED CBU AND UNZA STUDENTS TO RIOT.
Comparative Study of New Species of Political Bird
1. Ostriches are large and heavy – PF boasts constantly of size and growth of party and projects
2. They are birds but cannot fly – PF has resource as its wings but no clue what to do with them
3. They are ground feeding – PF loves to feed off the ignorance of the masses
4. They have powerful legs built for running – none has run Zed in to the ground quicker
5. They sprint in short bursts – PF believes in 90 day solutions
6. They bury their heads in the sand – no argument there
7. Their ancestors are extinct – and so too shall they be at this rate
8. Ostriches like to dance – PF love to dance around issues
GOOD ONE, 8 out of 8
For PF its either the problem is global or caused by opposition UPND. It’s just in Africa and Zambia in particular where a person seeking the highest office of the land can publicly BRAG that he has no Vision and yet we go ahead and give him a vote. Personally i can’t blame PF and Chagwa because their leader was honest enough to say he had no vision. Had it been in Europe that statement alone would have disqualified Chagwa. Vote wisely in August otherwise this is just a tip of an iceberg
This wankar (HH) is just a cheap flip flopper like a dolphin, this prick changes his statements daily to suit his situation. No different than Tayali. Miserable wimps. Your daily complaints wont get you to State house cheap weasel
iwe chikudos its too much of your low level of thinking. Its high time you became civilised and face reality don’t just be negative all times. People are suffering because of people like you. God wouldn’t be be happy with your character. You are worse than a beast.
The goat is saying government has woken up to the reality after he consistently warned them many times, but he’s also saying they’ve closed off sources of forex. And this FO0L thinks he can manage the national economy. Fake economist with cheap theories, as cheap as the mansions you bought cheaply by auctioning to yourself. As a former thief who benefited from Privatization and crashed our economy Hidi Hamin (HH) should be the last bigot to open his filthy mouth.
vote
PF campaign strategy – Donchi kubeba reloaded:
A. Obtusification: Lying that Lungu is not to blame for all economic ills and that it is Global….and that Zambians should not complain but thank Lungu who is getting fat each day in pocket and body!
B. Falsification / Smear / Hate campaign: Accuse HH of sattanism, mason, privatisation
C. Tribalism: Demeaning and intimidating other tribes that challenge Muchinga Bemba PF failure. Label and insult them as Tonga whilst exaulting wako-ni-wako Muchinga Bemba-Eastern alliance.
D. Violence through Police and PF militias.
E. Blackout HH from public media whilst Lungu branded campaign vehicles everywhere.
F. Enhanced corruption of population through economic blackmail.
G. Heroism. Using KK and Sata legacy to woo…
Your level of IQ amazes everyone on LT, dumb Azzhole!!!…Go and eat your own poop if it hurts so much you cant handle it…khikikikiki
Rainman, such are the rituals you perform with your self proclaimed god of Southern Province? No wonder you Illuminati Masons are stinking rich. Eating your own cow dang, that’s so disgusting. how can you live with yourself
Abena Kudos! I know that it is difficult, but try to think just a bit.
Firstly, HH has consistently talked about ensuring & stabilising our maize stocks before we even talk about exporting. He said this when he disagreed with Lungu’s plan to export maize to Zimbabwe and “earn forex to stabilise the Kwacha”.
Secondly, properly handled, maize can be a source of forex. HH said “instead of just exporting maize, add value and export mealie meal” and other by-products e.g. animal feed. Obviously, this can only be done AFTER the local market is satisfied. What has confused you?
Guys don’t worry about this kudos chap, he is hurt the looting he lives on is comming to an end.
There is nothing HH is saying here. The Farmers Union is predicting another Bumper Harvest. We know HH has been banking on Drought so that we have hunger in the Country, thinking he can use the Hunger situation to become president. There have been schemes to hoard Maize and create an artificial shortage. This has failed. Mealie meal is every where except in a few areas. Mr HH THINGS ARE NOT GOING TO FALL APART. The Fuel situation has normalised. The Kwacha is firming up against the Dollar. Mines have started recalling the retrenched Miners. New Power Plants coming on board and in June Load shedding will significantly reduce. Roads being Done. Schools and Hospitals being built. and talk of Universities. CBU and UNZA opening next week. YES ANOTHER BUMPER HARVEST ON THE HORIZON. There is…
In short you break the house down, we suffer, and then you build it up again. Is this the whole Chagwa plan? So you think Zambians are so dull they will fall on your knees and praise you for putting things back the way they were…? Mind you, by the time the maize is ready for harvest, harvested, bought and milled, it will be September and way past the appeasement period you are hoping for. Really sad if you are one of Chagwa’s advisers. I think LT should start asking for G12 certificates from bloggers. Too much folly here.
Mr HH THINGS ARE NOT GOING TO FALL APART. The Fuel situation has normalised. The Kwacha is firming up against the Dollar. Mines have started recalling the retrenched Miners. New Power Plants coming on board and in June Load shedding will significantly reduce. Roads being Done. Schools and Hospitals being built. and talk of Universities. CBU and UNZA opening next week. YES ANOTHER BUMPER HARVEST ON THE HORIZON. There is absolutely nothing Mr HH can tell me. The writing is on the wall. DEFEAT FOR HH ON AUGUST 11.
IWE CHUUNDU CHAITWA AKA EDDY WHY ARE YOU CHANGING NAMES RUNNING AWAY FROM WHAT,YOU THINK WE DONT KNOW JUST PREPARE MY FRIEND IN FEW MONTHS YOU ARE OUT.
Zambians have seen hell under PF and they do not want to go their permanently: inflation at multi – digits, Kwacha at 15 to the dollar, 300% electricity tariffs, fuel shortages, mealie meal shortages, powercuts, political violence, a clueless President, an emasculated national press, universities closed, and monumental flip flopping on all issues.
#ChagwaMustFall
However the larger issue here is that Zambia should not even be in a situation where it has to ban the export of maize and related products because we can produce food to feed the whole region of 300 million people. This is a market that, had the PF developed and implemented their agriculture policy properly, we could have been sending 5 million metric tons of maize to South Africa, rather than them buying the same from Brazil. Even as we are struggling with our foreign exchange reserves, Government is closing off sources of FOREX,” he said.
The question is what must government do ba HH. You seem to just like opposing. I want a constitution and walk out of parliament. No exports but you want Forex.
Hope Zambians can see through this guy
PF campaign strategy – Donchi kubeba reloaded:
A. Obtusification: Lying that Lungu is not to blame for economic disaster he created and that unprecedented borrowings, shortages, corruption, inflation is global.
B. Falsification / Smear / Hate campaign: Accuse HH of sattanism, mason, privatisation
C. Tribalism: Demeaning and intimidating other tribes that challenge Muchinga Bemba PF failure. Label and insult them as Tonga whilst exaulting wako-ni-wako Muchinga Bemba-Eastern alliance.
D. Violence through Police and PF militias.
E. Blackout HH from public media whilst Lungu branded campaign vehicles are everywhere and PF holds campaign rallies with Police help.
F. Enhanced corruption through economic blackmail.
G. Heroism. Using KK and Sata legacy to woo Muchinga/Eastern.
Tutu have read the all article? Read it again please.
Tutu, please re-read the article! The PF government has failed at the IMPLEMENTATION stage & that is why we are in this mess! HH is saying if they had implemented THEIR agric policy, we would not be having this shortage & we would be exporting and earning forex!
Nothing wrong with what HH has said! He is right whether we like him or not!
When is Chuundu Chaitwa traditional ceremony cerebrated?
We don’t have any such traditional ceremony in Zambia, trying bending over and check your a s s hole.
HH saw and spoke about this a century ago. Given Lubinda castigated him for creating a false alarm. What does this really mean ba PF????
This is good politics issued based nt personal assasination thats what we want keep it up
To fair on this one, I wouldnt blame HH for ” telling them I told you so” and capitalising on this as he warned them and Lubinda & his empty tins sniggered at him!!
The Supreme Leader HH of the UPND is now caught up with his scheme after buying bulk mealie meal to cause a crisis and export illegally he’s now got no where to take it except it will rot in UPND sheds because the Government was aware of the scheme hence the ban on export of maize and it’s products…That’s why he’s crying out loud that we need forex…what ever UPND does is upside down…
@Zakeyo… to think that you wasted resources on writing something so ludicrous is beyond belief. Just how big are these same UPND Sheds?
@ Crane They are not so big but several small holding shops and rooms which are big enough to disturb the supply chain and hence cause panic buying and the vicious cycle then goes on and on…
@ Zakeyo
Do you REALLY believe in the crap you are posting?
Zakeyo, a wasted sperm and ovum.
And you figured that out all by yourself….good boy. Now come to mama and change your diapers.
Hon Hyena Hh The Govt Hasn’t Banned For Good Kwizhi Watiya Chizungu Wanyi The Govt Said It Has Banned For One Week To Assess Maize Stocks In The Nation At Fra And Private Stocks.
*if We Ve Enough Why Nor Export So That We Clear Ware House For New Stock Stating May June
Hh Draem Well U Just Decampain Yoi Sefu
People like HH are excited on climate change so that they can gain political mileage on natural disasters. We are tired with his comments. All those who are supports HH tell him to provide solutions not comments. Viva Nawakwi and Kabimba. The two are non violent.
@mulele…Remind me…which planet are you from again?
PF are so clueless, they want to hear how the opposition could run the country. That’s why they want constructive criticism so that they can nick the ideas. Unfortunately there are no 90 day solutions in life. And PF is incapable of implementing solutions they don’t understand anyway.
HH had told BBC that Govt had exported all the maize at $200 and are now importing it at $400 per metric ton. How many tonnes has GRZ imported so far? We have been independent for over 50 years, and in all this long we have never managed to produce enough to feed 300 million people. How does HH expect such a miracle in the 5 years that PF has been in power?? The Miller’s Association that HH is talking about as having been against exports are the very culprits that have been illegally exporting subsidized maize from FRA . Pictures of Munkonge apologizing to the president for this crime where all over social media. Cheap lies!!
Can you explain why in the 5 yrs PF have been in power, agriculture and tourisim industries have been in decline???
Don’t tell us it is global.
What is HH saying here? He keeps on contradicting himself. He has been campaigning for ban of maize export, now that the Govt has banned the maize export, he quickly changes his position saying, “He further said instead of the ban the country should be taking advantage of the regional market and earn the much needed foreign exchange.” All these years you have been campaigning for a stop to export of maize, you didn’t know that the whole region of 300 million people was eying Zambian maize. Demand for our maize is very huge and extends to nations like Kenya, Sudan. Malawi, Tanzania, etc, are just fronting these counties. This behaviour of deceiving others belongs to the devil.
Yaba, these PF fellows are indeed dull. It is true they are a reflection of the PF leadership.
What HH said is if there had been proper planning there would be no need for a ban, hence missed opportunity to earn forex.
What tribe are you, maybe I can try explain in your language
@TRUE ZAMBIAN I think it is time for your afternoon nap now. First, let mama change your diapers and give you a quick butt-wash. Stop stressing yourself, debate is for people are objective. When you come to the chambers with prejudice, you leave with anarchy.
asking answers and arguing against oneself are obvious signs of despiration as pot of fresh ideas run dry. we don’t need dry economics on the staple food. it seems hh did not even bother to study govt’s statement on the export ban otherwise he wouldn’t waste so much shooting in air
@Spaka like lilo
I have no time for you. Just articulate your ideas independently if you think you are intelligent the way you are boasting. Dull people only know how to comment on other people’s comments and insulting those who are thinking and brainstorming issues at hand, can’t think or debate issues. If you can’t articulate anything just keep quiet and stay away. Are you HH?
Read the article again.
This cretin called HH is so difficult to like. He pours K20 million into a scam of buying mealie meal and maize in bulk in order, hoarding the commodity or smuggling it outside the country, thus creating a shortage in his own country, and then turns around, after contriving a self – fulfilling prophecy, and cynically tells all who care to listen – “See there is mealie meal shortage in Zambia!”
And you, a “John nsima yapya” have proof of that? If it were true don’t you think the OP and ZANIS would be all over the shades and silos. By the way are you also suggesting that HH is so influential he can use trucks belonging to PF ministers to export maize?……
@zakeyo: are you the escaped “client” that Chainama is looking for? Just call 999 and somebody will come to pick you up.
#ChagwaMustFall
Agric first#zambia look up
Spaka like lilo
What is your problem, what you know and believe is not what I know and believe. We are not the same. You are different and I am different. You are UNDP or HH and I am not simple. Just articulate your ideas and beliefs not insulting others who do not share same ideologies like yourself as you always do. People will believe you if you are telling the truth. We can’t all be UPND the way you want. May be in UNIP era? You are also bringing violence online instead of debating issues maturely and independently.
@Spaka like lilo
What is your problem, what you know and believe is not what I know and believe. We are not the same. You are different and I am different. You are UNDP or HH and I am not simple. Just articulate your ideas and beliefs not insulting others who do not share same ideologies like yourself as you always do. People will believe you if you are telling the truth. We can’t all be UPND the way you want. May be in UNIP era? You are also bringing violence online instead of debating issues maturely and independently.
Under five HH is a typical liar. He is a desperate chancer who is looking at every opportunity to use and paint himself as white as snow; too much for a stooge who has no heart for his own workers. I have never seen this rich guy engage into some charity. He is now getting very childish at seizing stories and using them to his advantage.
To ECL and team bravo! Dont relent in curbing smuggling, so far so good. Remember smuggling has been with us from the 70s. It is a story to HH and his goons though.
Alright now you have said your peace…. Now go out and play. Remember not to go far and stay away from the driveway. Leave debates to adults and youths with good reasoning. Remember to tell mama if anyone touches your dudu….that’s a good boy, now run along…!
I THINK IF HH CAN CREAT SHORTAGE OF MEALIE MEAL IN THIS COUNTRY THEN HE IS MORE POWER THAN “BOMA NI BOMA”SO IF VOTED IN OFFICE HE IS GOING SORTOUT THIS PROBLEM OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITES.SO DONT TELL ME THAT HH CAN OVER POWER “BOMA NI BOMA”SO THATS A TOTAL LIE.IF ITS TRUE IS CREATING SHORTAGE OF MEALIE MEAL THEN MORE POWER THAN “BOMA NI BOMA”HENCE VOTE HIM
What is so exciting about HH? HH was saying Govt is exporting and importing maize yet its selfish pipo like HH who are doing that. Lets face reality our govt has done what it could but selfish pipo like HH are frustrating efforts. Why HH speaking this time after seeing that his plan of causing meal meal shortage is almost closed. 111 trucks within a space of 5 days is not a joke. The country has criminals.
If HH can disrupt the economy on such scale while under the watchful eye of PF’s state intelligence 24/7, surely be is the person Zambia needs to lead her! Zambia needs diligent, determined and focused leadership, instead of kawayawaya takataka leadership under Lungu. That’s why
#ChagwaMustFall
The funny part is that most of the people posting here are only sharing opinions and not facts.