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Patrick Phiri’s turbulent three-season stay at Tanzanian club Simba is looking like coming to an end.
Press reports in Tanzania say Phiri is unlikely to be retained after failing to retain the league title he won last season.
This is after surrendering the title in dramatic fashion to archrivals Young Africans on the final day of the season on 46 points.
“Simba are unlikely to seek the services of their Zambia coach Patrick Phiri as a replacement is being searched,” The Guardian of Tanzania reported on Monday.
“One of the former Yanga coach from Serbia is linked to Simba as negotiations are underway behind closed doors.”
Simba under Phiri this season also finished without any cup honors apart from ending the league campaign in second place on the same number of points with Young Africans.
Phiri won the Tanzanian title last year after earlier guiding them from mid-table to second place in 2009.
Phiri has never had an easy stay at Simba and last season made a reluctant return after plans to hire another Serbia coach fell through.
This was Phiri’s second stint at Simba who he guided to the 2004 in his first and brief tenure.
An unlikely club is dominating the top of the top of the Faz Division 1 South table so early into the new season.
Provisional side Luena Buffaloes from Kaoma in Western Province are enjoying a 100 per cent record after three games played in the lower league.
The army club coached by Ernest Chisanga who is in his second season as Luena coach have won all three of their opening games.
Luena enjoy a three point lead with demoted Super Division side National Assembly in second place on 6 points and a loss to their credit.
Two of Luena’s wins have been on the road after beating Nampundwe and Mazabuka United 1-0 and 2-0 respectively.
Their next game will be against Kafue Celtic in Kaoma this Easter Sunday who are struggling on the other end of the table.
In Division 1 North, Indeni of Ndola is also enjoying a 100 per cent start to the new campaign and they will be away in Kabwe to play 11th place Chindwin Sentries on Sunday.
Chindwin are coached by ex-Zambia and Mufulira Wanderers midfielder Vincent Mutale.
Division One
Week Four
16/09/2011
North
Chindwin Sentries 0-Chambishi 2
Indeni 2-Bresmer United 1
Konkola Mine Police 1- Prison Leopards 0
Kalulushi Modern Stars 1-Ndola United 1
Kitwe United 1-Lusaka Dynamos 0
Nkwiza 1-Mining Rangers 3
Kabwe United 2-Zesco-Luapula 1
Muchindu 3-Luanshya United 0
Mufulira Blackpool 0- Mufulira Wanderers 0
South
City of Lusaka 5-Big Roma 0
Kafue Celtic 4-Lusaka City Council 0
Mazabuka United 0-Luena Buffaloes 2
Riflemen 1-Paramilitary 1
National Assembly 3-Petauke United 0
Freedom Rangers 4-Profund Warriors 0
Nampundwe 2-Lusaka Tigers 0
Kalomo Jetters 0- Livingstone Pirates 1
Senanga Leopards-Young Green Eagles*
*Young Green Eagles failed to travel travel
A 21-year-old man of Mansa district in Luapula Province was nearly lynched yesterday after an angry mob descended on him over accusations of being a ritual killer.
The incident happened near UB down market, when alert marketeers allegedly learnt that the victim, Fucha Machisa, was trying to snatch an innocent toddler.
Police rescued the suspect from an irate mob and took him to Mansa General Hospital where he was treated for a deep cut on his head.
However, Police had difficulties in preventing the mob at the Hospital which attempted to force itself into the institute’s premises demanding to finish off the suspected ritual killer.
The mob later demanded that the police release the suspect so that they could set him ablaze.
The mob later smashed windows to a medical doctor’s vehicle registration ALB 4216 as one of the people in the crowd shouted that the suspect was being whisked away in the same vehicle as it drove out of the hospital.
Speaking from his hospital bed, Machisa told ZANIS that he was attacked near a graveyard on his way home.
The recent attack comes barely hours after the police picked up bodies of two middle aged men who were viciously beaten and burnt to death in Senama area over similar ritual killing accusations.
And a 25- year -old woman of Musumali Village in Mansa is nursing a deep wound in Mansa General Hospital after she was stabbed in the neck by a robber who broke into her house.
In an interview with ZANIS from her hospital bed, Cynthia Mulele said a robber had broken into her house on Saturday night.
Narrating the ordeal, Mulele said while she sleeping with her three- year- old daughter she woke up at night only to realise that curtains had been removed from her windows by unknown people.
Ms Mulele said when she woke up to check on what was happening, the robber who was hiding behind the door held her at knife-point and led her outside.
She said while outside, the robber started dragging her towards an orchard of oranges adding that at this point, she realised that the robber intended to harm her but Ms Mulele wrestled with her attacker while shouting for help.
Ms Mulele said when the robber realised that people in the neighbourhood were going to be alarmed, he decided to stab her in the neck and bolted. The robber also made away with her curtains.
The victim who was struggling to speak due to pain said she was just being fed on fluids because of the wound’s depth.
National Restoration Party (NAREP) Secretary General John Phiri has alleged that people in Munali constituency wants change of representative following alleged failure of area Member of Parliament (MP) to deliver development.
Munali Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament (MP) Mumbi Phiri
Mr. Phiri has accused incumbent Munali Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament (MP) of failing to deliver development to the constituents.
He has also refuted claims by Mrs. Phiri that NAREP is sponsoring students at the University of Zambia (UNZA) to de-campaign her ahead of this years’ general elections.
Mr. Phiri told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the youths and people of Munali are not happy with the developments achieved in the area during the reign of Mrs. Phiri.
He said the people are disappointed with PF and Mrs. Phiri of failing to address the problem of roads, health posts and other needs of the community.
Mr. Phiri who has also shown interest in contesting the Munali Parliamentary seat under NAREP in this year’s elections has also
doubted the popularity of PF in the area.
He said people will vote for the capability of individuals and not for the party.
He has since advised Mrs. Phiri to appreciate the little she has done for the constituency rather than complain of her failing popularity.
Mr. Phiri has also cautioned people to scrutinise candidates who will be vying for public office in this year’s general elections.
He said people should vote for persons who can deliver and not the political party they represent.
Press reports indicate that Mrs Phiri has since accused those called for new representation in Munali as having been sponsored.
The Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) has castigated former Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti for attacking public media institutions.
PAZA Executive Secretary, Patson Phiri said it was unfair for a former minister who also served under the Information and Broadcasting Services Ministry to accuse the public media of being biased in their news coverage.
Mr. Phiri challenged Mr. Mulongoti to explain what major contributions he made towards improvement of operations of the public media when he served as a minister.
He said Mr. Mulongoti failed to address the plight of public media during his time and wondered why he had to wait all this time until he was fired to speak evil about the public media.
Mr. Phiri told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that Mr. Mulongoti’s remarks were only meant to please the opposition.
He said public media institutions have an obligation to highlight the many developmental projects the Government of the day was undertaking in the country.
He defended their operations saying it was through the same media that many people were now aware and appreciated Government for its works aimed at developing and uplifting their living standards.
[pullquote]He said Mr. Mulongoti failed to address the plight of public media during his time and wondered why he had to wait all this time until he was fired to speak evil about the public media.[/pullquote]
Mr. Phiri advised the former Minister to examine whether the same private media he was now supporting was objective and ethical in their reporting.
He also advised Mr. Mulongoti to stop issuing unnecessary statements when he was aggrieved but rather seek dialogue.
Mr. Mulogoti yesterday lashed out at the three Public media particularly the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), Zambia Daily Mail and the Times of Zambia charging that they were biased in their news coverage.
Mr. Mulongoti who featured on a live Mobi Television Programme dubbed Open Forum said the public media was biased and lacked credibility.
The Former Minister who also used the same public media to attack his perceived enemies when he was in Government said news in the public media was one sided and only centered on President Rupiah Banda and his government.
He also charged that editors in the public media had lost credibility and their ethics as they were not serving the public interest but the interest of the ruling Government and President Banda.
The former minister claimed that when he was Information Minister in charge he gave out licenses to various media institutions for them to operate freely and not to be confined to covering only the Government of the day.
And when asked whether he would accept any appointment from Government if he was appointed to any portfolio, Mr. Mulongoti said there was nothing left for him to benefit from the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).
Mr. Mulongoti said he had other ambitions in which he would explore to contribute to the nation’s development.
Mazabuka Municipal Council in Southern Province has refuted a story in today’s Post Newspaper edition stating that the people of Mazabuka have rejected mobile clinics to be launched by President Rupiah Banda
The story in the tabloid dated 18th April states that Mazabuka residents had rejected the Mobil clinics and instead wanted a general hospital.
Refuting the claims during an establishment committee meeting held in the Council chambers today, Mazabuka Town Clerk Ekan Chingangu said they was never a time when Residents Development Committees(RDCs) in Mazabuka sat to make such a statement.
ZANIS reports that Mr Chingangu said that the Council was in full support of mobile clinics and that all the Councillors were in favour of the gesture by Government.
Mr. Chingangu said that all the Councillors in the district would welcome the president and receive the mobile clinics scheduled to be launched by President Banda tomorrow.
He said that RDCs were there to help the Council to bring development to the district and that it was not possible for the Councillors to reject the clinics which he described as development.
And reacting to the statement about roads being graded when the President was scheduled to visit Mazabuka, the Town Clerk said it was a coincidence as the local authority had just approved its Constituency Development Funds and was currently implementing various programmes including the grading of roads in the district.
And Mazabuka RDC Chairperson Amos Chombegi Munsaka refuted claims reported in the tabloid that he said that the people of Mazabuka had rejected the mobile clinics.
The Chairperson said that he was misquoted by the Reporter who followed him to church and asked him questions about the President’s visit to the district which he refused to answer.
Mr Munsaka said that he never mentioned anything about the people rejecting the mobile clinics and that the news article surprised him just as much as it did to the people of Mazabuka
He said that in fact it was a good gesture for Government to consider Mazabuka for the mobile clinics and that they would go a long way in helping the local people.
An unidentified girl attends to house chores in george township
Non-Governmental organisations have described
the trend of fathers molesting their biological daughters as an unforgiveable and an immoral act.
Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Executive Director Anne
Ngwira said such an act was the worst kind and should be condemned in
the strongest terms.
Mrs. Ngwira stated that the act was a sin and uncalled for behaviour which was not even animal like because animals protected their young ones and did not molest them.
In an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, the Executive Director
urged mothers not to conceal such atrocities but to report them to save their children’s lives.
She further said women needed to be more aggressive in such matters but was however quick to note that their economic vulnerability contributed to them not reporting such cases adding that this was a sad development.
She said men who were destroying lives of their female children needed
spiritual transformation and should desist from such activities.
Meanwhile, Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) National
Coordinator Nelson Mwape has called on society to play an active role
in educating each other against such vices.
Mr. Mwape said Zambia had rules and regulations which were supposed to
be abided by stressing that the bible did not equally allow carnal knowledge of children by their parents.
He noted that some mothers were aware of what was happening in their families but instead opted to remain silent adding that this was wrong and such acts should be exposed.
He encouraged mothers to expose their husbands for the betterment of
their children describing such situations as abnormal.
Mr. Mwape said there was urgent need to get to the root cause of the
problem and called on all concerned stakeholders to come up with a
campaign to help address the issue.
He added that the campaign should include both men and women who should work together and observed that cases of women molesting under age children was equally happening.
Turning to the media, Mr. Mwape further said there was also need for the media to expose child defilers in an effort to curb such acts instead of taking photos of victims who were already traumatised.
”it is our duty as parents to protect, guide and provide for our children and once we start molesting them we are not performing our duty but instead we are damaging their lives,”Mr Mwape noted.
MMD party member displaying PF t-shirt and a paddling stick after they were surrendered by PF youths who defected to MMD
About 141 cadres from various political parties in Mongu District of Western Province have today defected to the ruling MMD.
The defectors are from the Patriotic Front (PF) United Party for National Development (UPND) and ADD.
Addressing the defectors and MMD party members at Mongu airport before departure for Kaoma this morning, Vice President George Kunda said Western Province is still a strong hold for the MMD and is a party which accommodates everyone.
Mr. Kunda wondered why some media are speculating false reports that the Patriotic Front (PF) is becoming strong in the Province when people are leaving its party to join the MMD.
He said the MMD government has done a lot for the people of Zambia adding that it is the only party that is able to deliver development in the Country.
The Vice President said it is common feature in almost every District he has been that people are defecting from opposition parties to the MMD.
“MMD is very popular in western Province in particular Mongu, it makes me wonder why the PF keeps on bragging of becoming strong in the province when people are running away from them” Mr. Kunda said.
Vice President George Kunda laughing when former PF member Mr. Chinga was addressing a crowd at Mongu air port in Mongu today.
AND speaking on behalf of the defectors, Former PF member Alex Chinga said they decided to join the ruling MMD because of many developmental projects that government is undertaking in the whole province.
Mr. Chinga noted that in a short period of being in office, President Rupiah Banda has managed to build many schools, hospitals and construct roads in the entire Province.
He added that he could not continue being in the opposition PF because it is a party which believes in homosexuality.
“As for me personally, the moment I heard that Mr. Sata was promoting homosexuality, I decided to change because am a Christian and the Bible does not say so” Chinga added.
He said as a group they will ensure that they encourage those who have remained in the PF/ UPND/ ADD to join the Ruling MMD.
MMD Copperbelt provincial information and publicity secretary Yotam Mtayachalo has said the absence of Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata at the 2011 Kuomboka traditional ceremony is a clear indication that he has no regard for the people of Western Province.
Mr Mtayachalo said it was surprising that while some sections of the media had continued projecting Mr Sata as the favourite presidential candidate for the people in the area, the opposition leader shunned their ceremony.
“If Mr Sata had regard for the people of Western Province, he could have made sure that he attended the Kuomboka traditional ceremony, especially that some sections of the media are reporting that he is the preferred presidential candidate. His absence shows that he has no respect for the people in the area.
“He has no regard for the Lozi people and he knows that some sections of the media are just misleading him by reporting that he is the preferred presidential candidate in the province,” Mr Mtayachalo said.
He said Mr Sata had a track record of not attending traditional ceremonies and that Zambians should not make a mistake of voting for him in the 2011 elections because he would easily ban the country’s rich traditions.
Mr Mtayachalo said unlike some opposition leaders who attended traditional ceremonies, Mr Sata did not seem to have any regard for the annual events that were treasured by the Zambian people.
He challenged Mr Sata to tell Zambians which traditional ceremony he had attended since he became PF leader.
Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) has advised chief government spokesperson Liutenant General Ronny Shikapwasha to use his position to build instead of issuing statements that are termed to be political.
TIZ President Rueben Lifuka says general Shikapwasha, should provide guidance to the radio stations instead of taking punitive positions of threatening them with closure.
This follows Chief government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha’s statement suggesting that all radio stations playing campaign songs risk losing their licenses because the Electoral Commission of Zambia has not declared the commencement of political campaigns ahead of this year’s tripartite elections.
Mr. Lifuka says General Shikapwasha should not just provide guidance but should also consider advising his party to refrain from advertising on the same radio stations allegedly being used by the opposition.
He tells QFM that General Shikapwasha’s statement is not only disadvantaging the opposition but also putting pressure on president Rupiah Banda to announce the election date.
The opposition UPND youth wing in the Southern Province has advised the Patriotic Front to attend its Provincial rally slated for April 29th and to be addressed by party president Hakainde Hichilema in Choma and witness how many of its members will defect to the UPND on that day.
And the UPND has refuted media reports in yesterday’s post newspaper suggesting that 61 of its members in choma have defected to join the patriotic front describing the party structures as being intact and stronger than anticipated.
Provincial youth chairman Francis Hakayobe says he has drawn up a list of more than 240 defectors from both the Patriotic Front and MMD that intend to switch to the UPND on the 29th of April 2011 led by PF Choma Central Constituency Youth Chairman Japhet Kamwendo and called on Patriotic Front senior officials to send representation in order to witness the grand occasion.
Mr. Hakayobe adds that it is a pity that the opposition party is playing politics of mediocrity and wondered which popularity its provincial chairperson Joseph Akafumba is claiming warning of a humiliating defeat in this year’s elections for the party in the province.
And on the reported defection of 61 UPND cadres, Mr. Hakayobe maintains that the PF had offered to pay every defector a total of K300, 000 at a function which was supposed to have been graced by Secretary General Winter Kabimba who could however not make it to Choma after being informed that the function had been snubbed.
He advised the Post Newspaper to consider providing factual information to the masses adding that the upnd in the province is still strong and resolved to support the candidature of its party president in this year’s tripartite election as he applauds the expulsion of Colonel Panji Kaunda from the party.
He said the youth wing is ready and determined to protect Hichilema against any odds and warned Panji Kaunda to desist from making unwarranted attacks on the party leadershipas they were ready to crash with him and his sponsors.
No worries-a couple relaxing at the Mindolo dam in Kitwe
Residents in Kitwe, who are beneficiaries of President Rupiah Banda’s directive to write off outstanding debt on their houses have described the president as a father of the nation who is ready to listen to the cries of the people.
Michael Chitundu of house number MN 97 Mukuba Natwange said by instructing the relevant authorities to write off all outstanding balances for 3,338 former parastatal houses that were sold to sitting tenants, Mr Banda had demonstrated that he had compassion for the Zambian people.
Mr Chitundu, who owed Mukuba Pension Fund some money to complete the purchase of his house, said he was overjoyed by President Banda’s directive and was convinced that his Government would continue to respond to people’s cries.
“I had paid some money towards the purchase of the house, but I had not completed the payment. I am now happy that the president has written off our debts.
“For me, I must say I am very thankful because this is a very good development. I feel this is the Government to have in power,” Mr Chitundu said.
President Banda on Saturday issued a directive that all outstanding balances on 3, 338 housing units on the Copperbelt be written off and sitting tenants given letters of sale immediately.
Mr Banda also directed boards of Zambia Forests and Forestry Industrial Corporation, National Pensions Scheme Authority, Development Bank of Zambia, and Mukuba Pension Fund to offer their housing units countrywide to sitting tenants for purchase.
The president instructed Mines Minister Maxwell Mwale to ask Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines-Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) to immediately write off the outstanding debts on housing units offered to sitting tenants in six towns on the Copperbelt.
The directive covers 1, 518 houses in Mufulira’s Kankoyo, Kantanshi and Mupambe townships and 1, 011 housing units in Luanshya.
Outstanding balances would be written off in Kitwe on 732 houses in Wusakile, Mindolo, Nkana East, Nkana West and Chamboli while 92 tenants in Kalulushi and Chambishi would benefit from the directive.
In Chililabombwe, outstanding debts on 31 housing units would be written off.
Charles Siyunda of House number MN 75 said although he had finished paying for his house, the directive was a good development and it showed that the MMD Government was there for the people.
Mr Siyunda urged opposition political parties not to politicise the directive as it was meant to benefit many people.
“This is a good development and this is what we call a listening Government. We just hope that the opposition will not politicise this issue.
“We are now urging you the media to follow up the issue and ensure that Mukuba Pension writes off the debts,” Mr Siyunda said.
Another resident, who only identified herself as Moddy, welcomed the directive, although she said it should have been made much earlier before some tenants committed themselves to loans while others sold their houses so that they could not lose out completely.
“But this is a wonderful idea, it is going to give relief to many people,” she said.
Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane has called on the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to enhance support of economic development projects in Zambia
He said the country was “hungry” for investment and specifically mentioned investment projects such as the Kasaba Bay Tourism Resort Development Project whose intention is to draw both public and private sector investment in the Northern Circuit open the area for intensive tourism development.
Dr. Musokotwane said it was also government’s intention to quickly commence implementing the development of the Multi-Facility Economic Zone in Lusaka with high class infrastructure that would target both export and domestically oriented business to Zambia.
This was contained in a statement issued to Lusakatimes by Ben Kangwa Press secretary for the Zambian Embassy in Washington DC.
He said the Zambian government was interested in a Public Private Partnership – Special Purpose Vehicle (PPP-SPV) to turn all major roads and bridges into toll facilities to finance new infrastructure. Road tolling would enable maintenance of the roads and upgrade existing facilities
Dr. Musokotwane said the Zambian government was dedicated to promoting Public Private Partnership as evidenced on the Kasumbalesa Border Post which was commissioned by President Rupiah Banda last month.
A joint venture between the Zambian government and Baran Borders, an Israeli company built the border post at a cost of US$25 million.
Dr. Musokotwane accompanied by the Special Assistant to the President for Economy and Development, Dr. Richard Chembe, the Bank of Zambia Governor, Dr. Caleb Fundanga and the Permanent Secretary (Budget) Mr. Emmanuel Ngulube are participating in the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings for 2011.
Dr. Musokotwane met on the sidelines of the IMF/World Bank meetings with the IFC Vice President and Africa management team Mr. Thierry Tanoh based at IFC office in Johannesburg and Mr. Jean Philippe Prosper IFC Director based in Nairobi.
He also commended IFC for opening up office in Lusaka and stated that it was now easy for the two sides to follow up on matters of mutual interest in a more efficient manner.
In response, International Finance Corporation Vice President, Mr. Thierry Tanoh said his organization through its offices in Lusaka would follow up the issue of the Multi Facility Zone as soon as possible
He said IFC was seeking to explore local currency to finance sectors such as agriculture. Mr.Thierry said IFC was supported investment in agricultural infrastructure in Zambia. He noted that IFC had invested US$25 million in Afgri Zambia
The financing is for a complete construction of a silo for grain storage which in turn would significantly improve access to market for farmers once completed.
Mr. Tanoh also proposed to engage the Bank of Zambia (BOZ) regarding the possibility of using local currency financing through a swap system in some projects while Governor Fundanga agreed to this proposal.
He said through this initiative, the Bank of Zambia and IFC would work together to further develop Zambia’s financial markets to support private sector growth and promote sustainable economic growth.
Mr. Tanoh further said his organization was interested in infrastructural projects. He also indicated that IFC expected a lot of progress by the time the two sides meet at the next annual meeting to be held in Washington DC in September 2011
More than 100 trucks are marooned at Kazungula border post on the Zambian side waiting to be cleared and cross into Botswana.
The trucks are marooned because big pontoon, which was reliable, stopped working yesterday due to engine problems.
The other big pontoon has been non-operational for two months now.
Only the small passenger pontoon, which only carries small vehicles and light trucks, operating at the moment.
This has angered truck drivers whose vehicles have been marooned at Kazungula border post for many days.
The drivers are angered because they have allegedly not seen progress towards repairing the big pontoon which broke down two months ago and are losing fuel through thefts since they have been stationary for too long.
The situation worsened yesterday after the other big pontoon broke down forcing the truck drivers to demand an explanation from Engineering Services Corporation (ESCO) management on the situation.
Today, the truck drivers ran amok blocking the three kilometer stretch road from the T-junction of Livingstone-Sesheke road to the border post in protest against ESCO management’s alleged failure to work on the big pontoons.
This means that vehicles on transit cannot pass on either way forcing some tax drivers to create routes in the bush for them to reach the border.
Concerned citizens have since called on authorities to immediately address the situation at the border post.
They said truck drivers have the right to protest because they face a lot of difficulties while waiting to be cleared at the border.
Truck drivers are accusing ESCO management of failing to give a satisfactory explanation as to why the pontoons are not working.
When contacted for a comment, ESCO manager Daniel Mutapo’s phone was not reachable.
Meanwhile, Kazungula District Commissioner, Albert Chifita, confirmed the development but decline to comment further referring all queries to Southern Province Minister, Elijah Muchima.
ZANIS
Nakonde District Commissioner Billy Silwimba has dispelled rumours alleging that government, through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), has reduced the maize floor price from K65,000 to K40,000 per 50 kilogramme bag.
In an interview with the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Nakonde today, Mr. Silwimba said the rumours allegedly being propagated by some opposition political parties are not true.
He said it would be irrational for government to cut the maize floor price for this year’s marketing season when prices of inputs have increased.
He explained that the misinterpreted K40, 000 is the price of a K50 kilogramme bag of maize being sold by the FRA to the hunger stricken communities.
Mr. Silwimba said his office, like any other District Commissioner’s office, requested for maize to sell to hunger stricken areas in his district at a reduced price of K40, 000 per bag, noting that this is meant to enable more people afford the commodity.
He added that government is yet to announce the maize floor price for the forthcoming marketing season.
He has since appealed to the small scale farmers not to be misled by people alleging that government has reduced the maize floor price for this year’s marketing season.
The District Commissioner reiterated that, just like in the previous marketing season, government is committed to buy all the farm produce from the farmers.
He said government will fix a price that will satisfy the farmers.
