President Hakainde Hichilema has reaffirmed government’s commitment to providing farming inputs to farmers under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) in good time for the 2025-2026 farming season.
And, President Hichilema notes that he is aware of farmers that sold their maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and have not yet been paid.
President Hichilema has since assured the farmers that government is committed to ensure that farmers are paid on time despite the challenges that are being experienced.
The media reports that the President was speaking in Siavonga at the Bagande Traditional ceremony in a speech read for him by Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Gift Sialubalo.
Mr Hichilema further reaffirmed government’s commitment to developing all parts of the country, as witnessed from the increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in the past four years from K1.6 Million in 2021 to K40 Million in 2026.
The Head of State also stated that Siavonga has not been left out as over 16 projects across the district in all the 12 wards are being implemented.
“Development is being taken to all rural communities through the provision of water reticulation systems, and improved infrastructure in the education and health sectors,” Mr Hichilema said.
He also indicated that government has already allocated K1.4 Billion to provide clean and safe water to rural communities, and that an additional 3,500 teachers and 2, 500 health workers county wide has already been set to be recruited.
The President said among other things, the government has targeted to increase Social Cash Transfer to 1.5 million households to support the elderly and vulnerable citizens.
Earlier, Chief Simamba thanked the government for the mass development in infrastructure such as the Chief’s palace, schools and health facilities in the Chiefdom.
“We thank the government for the massive infrastructure we are seeing in the chiefdom, schools and renovation of classroom blocks and also the free education that the children are benefiting,” Chief Siamamba said.
Speaking through his Representative, Phanuel Simamba, Chief Siamaba also called for peace and unity among Zambians across the country.
