Agriculture Minister Michael Katambo believes that opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema is conniving with milling companies to hike the price of mealie meal.
But Zambia National Farmers Union President Jervis Zimba says linking Mr Hichilema to the mealie-meal crisis will not help solve the problem.
According to people close to Mr Katambo, the Minister says he has evidence to link Mr Hichilema to the mealie meal price hikes.
“Minister Katambo is convinced that HH is the one behind this whole thing saying he wants to use the mealie meal situation to make the PF government unpopular. The Minister says HH is hoping the PF will go out of government because of mealie meal after a public revolt,” the sources revealed.
The sources who work with Mr Katambo at the Ministry of Agriculture Headquarters revealed that the Minister has been going around claiming that Mr Hichilema is one of the major investors in most of the big milling plants in the country.
They disclosed that Mr Katambo is also accusing Mr Hichilema of conspiring with rich commercial farmers to hold Maize and starve the milling plants in order to cause an artificial shortage.
“The Minister is telling everyone that HH is an investor in these milling plants such as Simba Milling and that he is now using his business muscle to trigger price hikes.”
They added, “ The Minister believes the commercial farmers who are very influential are in the pocket of HH, he tells them what to do and they listen. So as far as the Minister is concerned, this whole mealie meal crisis is HH’s making.”
The sources added that the Minister is convinced that Mr Hichilema has a hand in the crisis following reports of Mealie meal shortages in Monze.
“The Minister has come out very strongly against that video that emerged from Monze with people fighting to buy bags of mealie meal in a supermarket, he believes all that is the work of HH and the UPND.”
But who asked for a comment, ZNFU President Jervis Zimba said linking Mr Hichilema to the mealie meal crisis is not the solution.
“For me i don’t care what they said about HH, what is important is the Farmer should get the right price of the crop. The Ministry should stabilize the market by removing price controls on the Maize,” Mr Zimba said.
Kikikiki but mu PFools party mwaliba ifupuba baaad. Even GBM will call Katambo an idyot.
How can HH make such deal with GBM milling. Unless GBM-milling is selling at K70, then I will try to make sense out of that chibuku drunkard is saying.
Smuggling is responsible for mealie meal price hikes. Don’t blame double h. He could be looking at a way to benefit from the fracas quite alright but smuggling is largely responsible.
Unless you were born yesterday, Zambia literally and practically feeds the DRC’s bigger population.
You very porous poor border security policy vis commodity pilfering into the Congo. Do you even know how desperate the situation is in undesignated border crossing points?
Get to work with your counterparts especially from home affairs and defense.
A hungry man is an angry fellow, do you feel me?
Next the PF00Ls will say HH is behind the 12hr load-shedding black-outs being experienced countrywide.
HH will also be blamed for drought. Also for Kwacha’s poor performance.
Even Lungu’s frequent trips abroad will somehow be blamed on HH.
Chi HH nichikali zoona!
What type of leadership is this? Is this the first time Zambia as gone through such? HH has done anything or lungu. But who is having the instrument of power between the two? We should remember that what ever we do on this earth there times they face a test of time. It is in this times we who is a leader and who is not. Thanks. Stay healthy
In that case HH is reponsible for Cholera, HIV, Corruption, Climate change etc
If this is how you came up with “HH sold mines” then the man is innocent.
Epopelele
Kikikiki but mu PFuuls party mwaliba ifupuba baaad. Even GBM will call Katambo an idyot.
How can HH make such deal with GBM milling. Unless GBM-milling is selling at K70, then I will try to make sense out of that chibuku drunkard is saying.
These incompetent failures are always blaming someone else. What a shame.
This is the lowest calibre of a minister I have ever come across. It’s for this reason He has won the 2019 “Dull Fooool” price. The only person making PF unpopular is your ECL by being in denial that the COMMON man is suffering and failing to make ends meet due to poverty and food shortages. This is what the late PK Chishala sang about. I doubt if you do not even blame HH in the bedroom for being inadequate too.
Please leave HH alone because your failures have got nothing to do with him.
What a bunch of failures, honestly, who believes in this pile of s..h..it ???
This Minister is worth firing, he is NOT doing his job.
Instead of putting money to improve Agriculture output, you choose to build 48 houses. When reality hits , you all agree to blame HH and you think the Zambian people are f.ools !
so the hike in mealie meal prices has nothing to do with the continuous and increased load shedding we are all facing as a nation?
the producers are producing less, the demand is growing even before these rumors of smuggling to congo, what do you expect to happen?
You guys in government have the bully pulpit of turning the hand of any business entity.. coz you issue the business licenses!! You just did it wit the mines…HH has no power !! Go to the millers and solve the problem!You are speaking nonsense. Issue Subsidies to increase productivity.. oh wait the subsidies are already in your bellies.. jokers!!!
When we call them PFoools you think we are jocking, in PFoools every one is dull…. low IQ people… even grade zero`s will do better then this sh!t we have for leadership
Double lies by these PF misrulers. GRZ mismanaged production & planning of agriculture -these guys are like a clueless farmer blaming his tools for his poor work.
This Katambo is a failure just like other ministers in Lungu’s cabinet! They are all dullards! Didn’t this man lift the import ban despite HH and ZNFU warning them about the drought and impending shortages? Very useless government led by an equally incompetent drunk!
If HH has so much power that he can influence prices then I guess it’s time we voted for him and kick you clueless, incompetent, corrupt government! Thanks for giving me another reason to vote for HH in 2021!
“DULLARDS” or just bunch of brainless failures without any moral integrity whatsoever?
HH is a Mortal and in not Market Forces or Supply and Demand. This Katambo is Economically and Financially Illiterate so we should just ignore his idiocy.
I couldn’t agree with you more, seriously, who thinks like that in this modern era??? Let this guy Matambo put on a loin cloth and move back to the bush with the wild animals because I believe that’s where he belongs. So the next thing, we have another drought in the country, and who is to blame, HH of course. Come on guys, Wake up and smell the coffee!!!! Let’s grow up and be serious with what we are doing.
You see, when you leave out certain tribes in your Cabinet, this is what happens.Appoint Chief Mukuni as Agric Minister.
Please stop being tribal, you are just petty.
Bwana Katumbo so this means your PF is guilty of watching criminal conspiracy unfold and breach of competition laws and doing nothing. RESIGN NOW in shame.
“Snowball is behind the collapse of the windmill.” Animal farm.
The best comment that sums up everything
They even call him ‘honerable’. His words are just as empty as his cheeks. Are these the people that we surely want to continue running the country?
This story is about sources, sources and sources said this and that. Absolutely fake story written and published by Hakaluza Hagain sympathizers. This too is meaningless
Exactly, it’s a “source” close to the minister. Hon. Katambo never said this or issued an official statement. Useless article!!
Fake story
Yes he also sold KCM for $26 million and pocketed the commission.
Kudos, kudos……hehehehe
Tell us about how HH is hiking Meal prices ??
Hehehehehe …..
…..you have made my day
Empty head, KCM was sold by the Levy Government.
Dudelove,
The guy is a clown and only amuses …..
Its a matter of demand & Supply please kwa sila.
You right it is demand and supply pulling the strings and nothing else
Nkhuyu zodyewa ndi means zinapota lukuku. The mischief of a child is usually the fault of the parent.
If it’s true that HH is doing this then he is taking advantage of the negative situation with regards to the mealie meal. The UPND President is capable of doing anything in order for him to get to state house. I don’t think he has what it takes for him to do wonders when he becomes the republican President. People should be very careful in their process of choosing the President.
GBM milling is selling at K 60? Mr Katambo it is simple just ofload maize, the prices will go down? HH is not the Minister of Agriculture Napapata.
If this is true about HH then he’s not Presidential material
The problem of having ministers without knowledge of their job descriptions….
So what this useless minister is saying is, if they remove Mr Lungu from the office now and put HH, meali meal price will be K20 per 25kg since HH controls everything. Why are the people still suffering in this country, if the people in offices are giving them clues. Try to analyse what Mr Katambo is communicating and do it folks.
What a shame to blame President hh over the price of mralie meal. Those are kicks of a dying horse. Hh advised not to export maize. You accused to be a bitter man. Bachumbu munshololwa just accept that you have failed to lead the country. Get out and let him take charge yhe running of the country. Why are you al ways blaming when he is not in government. Katambo stop embarrassing yourselves
ACCUSING HH OR PRICE CONTROLS IS NOT THE SOLUTION. THE PRICE OF M/MEAL IS NO LONGER AN ISSUE THESE DAYS AS IT WAS IN 1991. THESE DAYS WE GROW MAIZE IN THE BACKYARD AND TAKE IT TO THE H/MILL. THE FEW POPLE COMPLAINING ARE THE FEW WHO BUY FROM SHOPRITE. THIS WILL NOT CHANGE ANY POLITICAL TABLES NOW. SO FRA SHOULD JUST OFFLOAD THE MAIZE ON THE MARKET AND THE FORCES OF DEMAND AND SUPPLY WILL DICTATE THE PRICE. NOT THIS CLUELESSNESS BY THE MINISTER.
PATHETIC GOVERNMENT !!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY ALLOW FOR THE EXPORT OF MAIZE DURING ONE OF THE WORST DROUGHTS IN YEARS AND NOW THEY BLAME THE OPPOSITION FOR SHORTAGE. ZAMBIA IS DOOMED AS WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT WHO WILL NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR FAULTS.
Then this “POWERFUL” HH deserves to rule this country.He haa been held responsible for so many things those entrust with power fail to manage to the benfit of the population.IF HE CAN INFLUENCE MEALIE MEAL PRICES TO GO UP WHEN HE IS NOT EVEN IN POWER,THEN HE CAN SURELY BRING THEM DOWN ONCE IN POWER!!
HH , the most powerful, influential man in Zambia,
according to GRZ he even has influence of who can invest in Zambia and even has influence over the IMF ,
What a man……
This foolishness has gotten to another level. Who is in power if I may ask? Is it HH or ecl ? Ba minister with due respect stop behaving like a small child who cries for a rolly pope on TV advert,look at u ,u are not even ashamed to blame an innocent man for your failure,do your job and stop mentioning names of harmless pipo,y can’t u sit down with your group of failures and discuss what is to be done?
Iye these levels of desperation are saddening! If this story is true then we have a lot of work to do as a country as far as electing leaders is concerned!
WE WILL TELL THE PRESIDENT WHEN HE COMES BACK AS WE RECEIVE HIM AND BEFORE HE LEAVES FOR THE OTHER COUNTRY…. THERE IS ONLY ONE SOLUTION TO THESE PROBLEMS ASK THE PRESIDENT TO WORK FROM HIS OFFICE FOR A WEEK JUST A WEEK THEN HIS FREE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY AGAIN
Edgar Lungu told you he has no vision for the country and you went ahead and made him president so now you are facing the consequences of incompetent failures. How can the whole of govt with their machinery put and lay the blame on an opposition for failing the people of Zambia. If they have enough evidence they should arrest him and stop the poverty. People are not going to eat this blame monkey business PF is on. HH should start suing these chaps so we know who is misleading who in this country. Ministers should not be peddling such serious lies and playing with people’s lives. What a waste crop of leaders!
Your Excellency, here is the real opportunity to fire this minister, he has failed you. How the hell does he put the lame on HH?
That’s a classic. If this Minister really said this we have now hit the bedrock of mediocrity. Only the thick will now go forward.
What is this Mr Katambo? is your brain damaged or what?
The Agricultural Minister is a very normal person, I think they have just accused him of blaming HH because Mr Katambo is very normal, he can not say these abnormal things, I expect that before noon he will refute these abnormal lies unless things have changed from the last time I knew him.
WHAT A SHAMELESS GOVERNMENT;;;;;;;;; LET ME TELLYOU YOU FOOL. IAM A MONZEDIAN RESIDENT AND THE ISSUE OF MONZE RESIDENTS BEING STARVED BY HUNGER OF MEALIE MEAL ITS NOT THERE MY FRIEND FOOLISH MINISTER.. SOUTHERNERS WILL NEVER BE STARVED NO MATER HOW MUCH YOU ARE GOING TO TRY TO PUNNISH THEM. WE ARE GOING TO BUY A BAG OF MEALIE MEAL AT ANY PRICE YOU ARE GOING TO PUT IT, UNTIL WE KICK YOU OUT OF POWER IN 2021. LEAVE OUR PRESIDENT HH ALONE OUT OF YOUR FAILED GOVERNMENT.
Kikikikiki….kuti wasekaa..! Let your stooge, GBM milling, also connive with his fellow millers to bring down the price of mealie meal. Ubupuba mu Pf bwaya saana.
First it’s smugglers then it’s HH, mwebantu! Arrest and sue him, kaili. What are you waiting for?
This is what happens when/if you give incompetent individuals your vote, another incompetent person appoints them and they start yapping about.
Some of these statements are laughable. The issue of meal-meal has been getting out of Hand for now but government has been ignoring the warning signs. HH influence is exaggerated in failed PF government. Soon PF will be run away from their shadows.
Iwe ECL stop fying. Your Ministers are turning themselves into laughing stock. Come back and check you friends in Government. Maybe I need to understand the technicalities leading Katambo to making such wild allegations to someone not in Government in the name of double h. Just how can double h connive with millers. I don’t get it mweee!
Bo Inonge, isn’t this a low button from a Minister? Embarrassing.
This obviously is fake news by UPND cadres, have you heard Hon Katambo say this?
Truly this is not true. You can read the way the article has been framed.
Am not an economist but I feel it’s simple maths, if 50kg bag it’s at k110 then one wouldn’t expect the mealie meal price to be at k70. The more maize price goes up which is a plus to a farmer prices of mealie meal should go up.
This is nonsense HH a President in Nation why ? I think to my own opinion we don’t have leadership in Country, you are a Minister do something, HH is Man like u why can’t you do the same thing if it so, come 2021 ,m******mwe.
Indeed we are in the country that has lost vision. In the first place the Religious Minister Madam Musumali had ask the pipo of Zambia to unite in prayers for to give us good rains so that the meal meal price can go down thanks to her calling and I give her the much respect she deserves. Coming to this article if true or false although even Mr media Suday Chanda blames HH on the meal meal prices. All I can say is Mr. Katambo should start reasoning that we have a Government in place not caders in those offices he is sitting. Please send your members in the ministries to various maize shades through out the country and let them tell if they have the maize. Your ministry just lifted the export ban for you guys to raise the much needed Forex for which U did not bring or U put in your accounts…
A fcuk for a minister
PF a perfect example of potential without purpose
There is need for the minister to fully understand the various factors and elements that have reached the Mealie meal issue to this far. The demand and supply is one issue. Adaptation of climate change,, strategical approached and long term planning to mention few. It is time to be professional and use management skills.
LT, the photo of 21 February 2019 has no place in a story of today, 26 August 2019.
How totally incredible can one be to blame prices and shortages on an individual! Is HH now a god of some sort? If so then indeed, let hims rule the next time; do not rig and let the real process take its course.
President Lungu should fire all his ministers, except 7. Most of these people including opposition MPs are useless.
Kikikiki There you have it that’s Zambia for you one man that can influence Imf, blomberg , millers ,international ambassadors, international investors,
opposition leaders , yaba he even sold the mines awe HH you are too powerful
Kikikiki , Anyway this reeks of fake news.
Quoting unnamed 3rd parties and just the absurdity of the statement itself.
Nabo aba ba Belly Cadre Minister aba bu kopo so, na ku bwetuka bwetuka shamelessly.
Even ku menso, mfeshi like a car that was badly damaged in a serious road traffic accident, & has just got panel beaten by amateur panel beaters mu komboni. KAYA!!?
When you have failed you look for scape goats! All this is playing in Hakaindes hands. This is a case of becoming popular even when you have done nothing right…. PF busy scoring own goals
This is greatly laughable indeed. Adults talking like infant with no brains at all. Just how does hh connive with God to starve the nation by not bringing enough rain in the country. We had a drought ask scientists and geographer. This is clearly wrong place to point at when you fail. Better say we have failed than point fingers to wrong places. Now hh is God awe naimwe baPF you are childish!!!!
Look at those clueless fools …with blank faces and empty brains
I THOUGHT KATAMBO WAS A SINCERE MAN, AT LEAST ABOVE PEOPLE SUCH AS LUSAMBO OR DORA! OR ‘NI BOSS ANIKONDE’, MWATI SO? KATAMBO BELIEVES HH IS CONNIVING WITH MILLERS? WHAT IS THE BASIS OF HIS BELIEF? BA SHUSHUSHU?