The Patriotic Front (PF) leadership has said that said The United Party for National Development (UPND) government is punishing innocent farmers by failing to provide Food Reserve Agency grain bags.
PF Member of the Central Committee in charge of Information and Publicity Rapheal Nakachinda said it is unfortunate that farmers have stayed for two months in depots without being given grain bags.
He said the UPND promised to be there for the people but the current situation is unacceptable.
He appealed to President Hakainde Hichilema and Minister of Agriculture to ensure that the situation is resolved.
Meanwhile Mr Nakachinda has given the new dawn government 48 hours ultimatum to start giving out farming inputs to farmers.
“By now farmers should have farming inputs in their homes but what is being said is that they are auditing FISP,” he said.
And Shiwang’andu Member of Parliament Stephen Kampyongo said it is saddening that farmers can be subjected to such suffering.
Mr Kampyongo said farmers will lose out if the situation is not resolved.
He said farming season is around the corner but farmers are languishing at depots.
Meanwhile, Some farmers in Ngwezi ward in Kazungula district, who took their maize to Ngwezi satellite depot, have asked government to provide them with empty grain bags as soon as possible.
The farmers complained that they have been sleeping at the depot for over three months now waiting for the Food and Reserve Agency (FRA) to purchase their produce.
A check by ZANIS at Ngwezi depot yesterday revealed that most of the grain bags are damaged and the maize might go to waste very soon.
Sydney Siantwala, who spoke on behalf of other farmers, requested the new dawn government to quickly address their plight.
And Kazungula District Cooperation Union chairman Elias Muluwa said farmers in the area were suffering and needed urgent help from the government.
“Farmers have brought their maize here for three to four months now. The rains are coming very soon. Look at the bags of maize which are tearing up resulting to maize pouring out. This situation is unacceptable to hard working farmers,” Mr. Muluwa lamented.
He said farmers were suffering hence government should assist them by providing them with empty grain bags.
Meanwhile, Katombola Member of Parliament Clement Andeleki assured the farmers of Ngwezi ward that government will purchase empty grain bags for their maize.
Dr. Andeleki, who addressed the people of Ngwezi ward at the central market yesterday, bemoaned the poor leadership of the previous regime saying the Patriotic Front (PF) government did not plan properly about the procurement of maize in the area.
Oh please can someone just tell this corrupt loser that absolutely NOBODY is waiting on his ridiculous comments? He STILL doesn’t realize that PF has lost the election and with it ALL credibility?
You may not like Nakachinda but the issue he has raised is very sensitive. People are comparing, never during the 10 years of PF in power did government disappoint farmers like this! Failing to buy the maize already produced by the PF regime is shameful and a sign of the worst to come
But this is still remnants of the horrible thieving PF government. Surely those bags should have been in stock or at least ordered before the election date, so still Edgar China Lungu’s responsibility. I’m getting a bit tired of people now suddenly blaming everything on the incoming government, while PF’s fingerprints are all over!
During pf rule, Southern province and all upnd stronghold were not prioritized for farmer support many times because like hh, they were Tongas. Today this lump wants to tell us what to do when we are still fixing the mess created by his lazy lungu. Thank you Jesus we now have tongas in power. Very sensible and important
All the sudden this MMD suddenly turned PF is now interested in farmers concerns when PF was giving out free money why didn’t you channel some money to them? Nakachinda did his job of damaging MMD now he is being rewarded with a job in PF and in PF he will do the same like termites eating wood roof rafting inside out till the whole roof collapses.
What tribe is this nakachindi fat boy? Tongas wouldn’t act like this. Can someone tell me his tribe
I don’t care whether it’s PF or Upnd all I want is my farming inputs. I paid for it so can I please have it? I have ploughed and this delay is becoming a nightmare.
Lungu and PF bankrupted the economy and country trying to bribe voters ……..
They stole all the money meant for farmers to try to keep lungu in power………..
This is what we are seeing now, all funds were diverted to lungus campaigns……..
Is that a fake Tarino orange above ?
The problem with fakers , you are known straight away………
Reading some of the comments above gives one the impression that we have a lot of people covered under the cultic spell. Cheap politicians and shallow minds just keep on refering to the previous Govt. Your gods need to be working on plans to solve the problems that confront the nation. PF was not a God they messed up just like your new gods are messing up already. what we need is a Govt that is focussed on solving problems without dwelling too much on the previous Govt. This habit of just condemning the previous govt is not only childish but also primitive. We have a new Govt let us work and solve problems that we can and also take criticisms. This Govt, is not the first, there has been six Govts before and there will be many more.
PF are fronting this foolish fat thing to say foolish things that damage sense
Spaka – The fakers lack creativity and intellect hence copy…they want to use this platform for the wrong…its so sad!!
You cannot copy my intellect. Yes I mentioned some things that are pro tonga but it seems some troll has taken that and tried to make me look bad. Cloning me won’t stop me from being a proud Tonga. It’s not a crime to be Tonga
UPND do not accept criticism
This is like someone removing the wire to the car battery (PF) and then blaming the next driver (UPND) of the car for being unable to start it.
THIS IS A SPILL OVER FROM PF DAYS
THE BAGS IN THE PICS ARE NOT NEW BAGS THEY ROTTEN
Apparently they need 1.2 million bags. Quantities like that must be ordered months in advance, so clearly that was the responsibility of the previous government. And there won’t be a quick fix, with the current turmoil on the container market. Thank you Edgar China Lungu, another job blubbered!
Nakacinda please act like a mature politician … the new dawn is just taking over, and if there is anybody to blame for this rotten ripped sacks its you because you diverted funds meant to buy sacks for weak lungu’s self -aggrandizement
Harvesting of this maize started way before elections in May. It was PF governments job to deliver bags or at least fund FRA to purchase enough grain bags by August but they were too busy stealing and diverting money towards campaigns. Thanks to nakachinda for reminding us of another PF mistake.
It’s so surprising that you PF leaders keep blaming UPND even for your own failures.
Whose budget was the 2021 budget pf, so whose plan for buying 2021 maize and bags was this? Patriotic front. Anyway continue telling lies to the innocent people of Zambia. God is watching you. A good government would have already availed these bags in all districts across the country. But due to your bad governance, we are scrambling in the last minute to distribute bags. When we should have had these things delivered by June. Find a clever way of doing politics Mr Nakachinda.
We all know that PF knew the country needed grain bags. What Nakachinda should be saying is; “why have you not followed in the order that was made by PF to procure grain bags?” It appears there was no planning in place and even grain bags were corruptly procured!