Some farmers in Kalomo have expressed concern over the exclusion of names which were submitted to their respective community agriculture committees (CACs) but are not appearing on the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) beneficiary list at the local agriculture office.

Speaking on behalf of other farmers, Kamuseka Cooperative Chairperson of Siachitema block, Hillary Muleya charged that several names which were submitted have not yet been tagged in the system to appear on the final list to enable them deposit the required K400.00 for them to acquire the agro inputs.

“We have been spending nights here in town in the hope that those names which are not appearing will come out but the system looks not to actualise our expectation. And imagine, we have only exactly 13 days before the close of the depositing time, still things are moving at this pace. Let us shake up the system please,”Muleya prodded.

This comes barely a week after acting District Agriculture Coordinator, Ng’andu Simuulu confirmed that FISP deposits are going on well at the all seven designated financial points in the area.

And earlier in the day, during the Radio Namwianga phone in Breakfast show, scores of farmers called on relevant wings to thoroughly investigate the matter.

Meanwhile, District Commissioner, Joshua Sikaduli also confirmed having received reports of suspected fraudulent dealings believed to have been allegedly engineered by community agriculture committee members and their respective camp officers.

Mr. Sikaduli warns that if any fraudulent dealings are to be proved, erring officers would not be spared for depriving eligible viable farmers participate in the FISP.

This comes in the wake of reports of shoddy dealings also reported in Sipatunyana, Malende, Namwianga and other agriculture camps over delays of tagging of new names in the system.

And District Agriculture Committee Chairperson, Alexcious Sindumda who oversees the CACs was not available to comment over the allegations as his phone was unreachable.

Kalomo district is targeting 31,000 farmers to benefit from the Farmer Input Support programme for the 2022-23 farming season and so far only 8,457 farmers have deposited. The depositing exercise is expected to close by November 20, according to sources.

Kapasa Makasa University Chancellor Jacob Mwitwa has encouraged secondary school pupils to explore tertiary opportunities that are being offered by the local university in natural sciences.

And Professor Mwitwa says transformation of Muchinga Province and Chinsali district in particular requires people to accept the working environment and its inadequate social amenities.

Professor Mwitwa says not all graduates can be managers saying some can be team builders while others can be conventional and persuaders.

He was speaking at Chinsali Girls Secondary School grounds at the weekend when he gave counsel to outgoing Grade 12 pupils on how best they can contribute to the economic growth of the province.

Professor Mwitwa said government has created enabling environment for entrepreneurship and challenged pupils not to be artificial but to critically focus on enterprising to grow the economy.

He said development starts from nowhere but with concerted efforts of technocrats, and with career path which is well identified, will contribute to the vision of making a place better than they found it.

Professor Mwitwa is hopeful that the academic knowledge that pupils have acquired will help to build on the career path so that they can discover who they are and what they are capable of doing.

He further encouraged pupils to apply and enroll in natural science courses that are being offered at Kapasa Makasa University.

And school Head Teacher Grace Kapeso appealed to the pupils to be creative and innovative as they leave Chinsali Girls.

Ms. Kapeso said getting married before attaining any tertiary education is what has contributed to poverty among young ladies in the province.

She has since called on parents to support the dreams of their children rather than forcing them into marriage at the expense of their intelligence.

About 500 grade 12 pupils from Chinsali Girls Secondary School are sitting for their Grade 12 examinations which starts today countrywide.

Professor Mwitwa said some officers who think working in Muchinga province is a punishment are not fair to themselves adding that the appointing authority treasure their professional qualifications and capabilities which are matched to close the development gaps lacking in some sectors.

He explained that when choosing a career path, one needs to think and identify their potential adding that real professionals love to work in areas that have potential emerging market economies which calls for creativity.

“Muchinga has a lot of career opportunities if properly harnessed will help the upcoming graduates to become entrepreneurs,” he said.

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Brenda Tambatamba, has called on labour officers to explain the recent pension reforms pronouncements.

Ms Tambatamba says labour officers must help people understand early access to a pension, the revision of the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) penalty rate and the closure of the Zambia National Provident Fund (ZNPF).

Officially opening the labour officers conference at Zambezi Source Lodge in Kabwe, Central Province, the Labour Minister said the pension reforms is a response by the government to the calls by the workers to remodel the pension schemes.

The Minister said the Government has scored some significant milestones among them the enactment of the Zambia Institute of Human Resource Management Act No. 3 of 2022 and the development of sector-based minimum wages.

She further said the drafting of the national productivity bill, the development of the occupation health and safety policy and, the amendment of the NAPSA Act to allow for partial withdrawal of employees’ pension benefits and to revise the penalty rate to provide relief to businesses are among them too.

“The enactment of the Zambia Institute of Human Resource Management Act No. 3 of 2022 is aimed at facilitating effective regulation, standardization and enforcement of human resources management practices that protect and promote the rights of the workers. It reinforces the regulatory mandate of the human resource profession,” Ms Tambatamba said.

She disclosed that her ministry through the advisory council is currently reviewing the existing minimum wages and conditions of service for protected employees for the purpose of aligning them to the prevailing socio-economic conditions in the country.

The Minister also called on the labour officers to fully participate in the advancement of decent work because it is critical in actualizing the transformation agenda of the new dawn government.

“I call upon all of you to fully participate in the advancement of the decent work as it is critical in actualizing the transformation agenda of the New Dawn Government as espoused in the 8th National Development Plan (8NDP) on economic transformation and job creation, human and social development, environmental sustainability and good governance environment,” she said.

Ms Tambatamba also advised officers to use the right channels of communication in case of doubt in the course of action to be taken.

She admitted that officers in the ministry have had some administrative challenges but was quick to state that the New Dawn administration under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema is passionate to unlock the potential barriers for a sustainable economy, holistic and inclusive national development.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Labour and Social Security acting Permanent Secretary, Zacharia Luhanga, said the workshop was very important because it brought all stakeholders together to deliberate on labour matters.

Mr. Luhanga said there could be no future without the past and participants should use the workshop to strategize on how to improve on service delivery.