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Scores of Mansa Municipal Council (MMC ) general workers today marched from the civic centre to the District Commissioner’s office to protest over unpaid salaries for 10 months.
About 30 council workers, most of them dressed in blue work suits gathered as early as 08.00 hours demanding to see the district commissioner major Chibwe Nsakasha.
However, when major Nsakasha emerged from his office he refused to address the workers telling them to go back to the civic centre where he would join the town clerk Bwanga Kapumpa to speak to them.
The DC said he would not address the workers in vacuum and asked them to select their leaders who would represent them when he will meet the town clerk.
The workers complained to ZANIS that they have not got paid since January this year.
They said they were paid the salary meant for December last year four months ago.
The workers, who said were going to continue their peaceful demonstrations, are demanding for the removal of Mansa town clerk, Mr Kapumpa whom they accused of being insensitive to their welfare.
The town clerk was not available for comment.
Government early in the year released over K3 trillion budgetary allocation to 67 City and District councils in the country for their 2010 budget expenditure.
Local Government and Housing Minister Eustarckio Kazonga disclosed at a press briefing in Lusaka that five councils however did not benefit from the grant because their failure to submit their 2009 budget expenditure reports to the ministry.
Dr. Kazonga named the five district councils as Livingstone, Sinazongwe, Mungwi, Mansa and Mwense district councils respectively.
He urged the councils that have not submitted their 2009 expenditure to do so before the end of March 2010 to enable the ministry evaluate their spending.
Government has disclosed that about K174 billion has been spent to complete the 73- kilometre Zimba-Livingstone road in Southern Province.
And government has expressed satisfaction on workmanship on the road by the contractor China Geo Corporation (CGC.)
ZANIS reports that Southern Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Alfred Chingi said the completion of the road had boosted the already existing trade in the province as evidenced by the many infrastructure development being witnessed in the province.
Mr. Chingi also stated that the road had linked the province to other parts of the country to trade in various merchandises which would improve the livelihoods of many Zambians.
He said this when Civil Society Platform National Coordinator Mutale Wakunuma and a team of Journalists from Lusaka called on him at his office in Livingstone today.
He said the Zimba-Livingstone road is expected to be commissioned as soon the contractor handed it over to Government.
The DPS further expressed delight on the amount of infrastructure development being witnessed in the province.
He said recently, there has been an influx of investors in the province intending to invest in various sectors, a move he described as good for the development of the region and the people of Southern Province.
Mr. Chingi attributed the level of development being witnessed in the province to Government’s good policies devised to attract more investors who in turn created jobs for the local people.
The Lusaka City Council has advised residents to make formal complaints at the local authority when they experience cases of noise pollution.
Lusaka City Council (LCC) Assistant Public Relations Manager Mulunda Habeenzu said the local authority can not intervene unless members of the public register a formal complaint.
Mr Habeenzu said this in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.
He explained that upon receiving a report of such nature, the Council then forwarded it to its police to conduct investigations which determined the local authority’s next course of action.
Residents from Rhodes Park have expressed concern at the loud music played at the Barclays Sports Complex until early hours of the morning hence disturbing their peace.
He further said the local authority can not take any action at the moment as it had not received a formal complaint.
Sports Minister Kenneth Chipungu and his Deputy Christopher Kalila
Government has said it will not tolerate unnecessary excuses from Zambian workers who are working with a Chinese firm Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Corporation (AFECC) to build the Ndola stadium.
Minister of Sports Kenneth Chipungu said complaints that the workers were being mistreated at the construction site was one way of delaying works which he said would not be tolerated.
Mr. Chipungu said the Chinese firm had a deadline to meet adding that they were working hard to ensure that the construction of the stadium was completed within the stipulated time frame saying it would be costly to extend the construction period.
He added that extending the construction period of the stadium would require mobilisation of more resources saying this would be unaffordable for the country and that it may delay the works even further.
He said the country was in a hurry to have a modern, multi-purpose Stadium to host international matches adding that the Chinese contractor was aware of the nature of work and would not also tolerate absenteeism, underperformance and laziness from workers.
He said workers at the stadium most of whom were youths should not unnecessarily complain but commit themselves to the work which he said would benefit them greatly once completed.
The Minister said this in an interview in Lusaka today. This was in reaction to a story carried in the media recently that the Chinese contractor contracted to build Ndola stadium was mistreating Zambian workers at the site while favouring Chinese workers.
So far, about 700 to 1,000 locals have been employed at construction site located strategically at the entry point to Ndola from the rest of the Copperbelt towns.
The building of the 45,000-capacity stadium in Ndola by AFECC would, apart from helping develop sport, bring funds to the national treasury.
The Ndola stadium would be fully funded by the Chinese government which offered to put up an ultra modern structure in Zambia after talks between Late President Levy Mwanawasa and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao in 2006.
The stadium which is scheduled to be completed in October next year will gobble about US$60 million.
PF leader Michael sata and UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema
The Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata has observed that bickering in the UPND/PF pact is diverting attention from the real values of the pact.
The PF leader said the two political parties should promote unity and fight the challenges that are facing the pact.
He, however, said the pact is intact despite the news that it is under pressure and that he would not be distracted from the real objectives of the pact.
Speaking on the platform programme on Joy FM today Mr Sata further observed that most people have felt the impact of the pact and there are trying by all means to destabilize it.
There have been continuous attacks among the members of the pact and the MMD party that the pact is crumbling owing to their failure to choose one presidential candidate.
[ QFM ]
Speaker of the National Assembly Amusa Mwanamwambwa
Speaker of the National Assembly Amusa Mwanamwambwa wednesday castigated Kafulafuta Member of Parliament for calling President Rupiah Banda a liar, in wednesday’s Post newspaper.
Mr Mwanamwambwa said it is un parliamentary and a breach of the parliamentary code of conduct for Mr Mpombo to ridicule the Presidential speech in the press.
The speaker said it is an offence for a Member of Parliament to refer to the head of state by his name only and also to call the head of state names.
Mr Mwanamwambwa said insulting the head of state is not a sign of heroism and political championship but, just wrong.
The Speaker was making a ruling on a point of order raised by Bahati Member of Parliament Besa Chimbaka who rose on a point of order and wanted to know whether Mr Mpombo was in order to call the President a liar in the Press.
Mr Mwanamwambwa appealed to Members of Parliament to discuss parliamentary issues in parliament instead of rushing to the press.
He told the house that MPs should take advantage of Parliament and their immunity in the house to debate the Presidential address and other matters.
[ ZNBC ]
Former Finance Minister Ngandu Mangande
The ruling MMD in Lusaka province has charged that expelled Chilanga Member of Parliament Ng’andu Magande’s acceptance of his expulsion from the party proves that he went against the party rules.
MMD Lusaka Province Deputy Chairperson Henry Mutiti also said the MMD is looking forward to retain the Chilanga parliamentary seat.
Mr Magande has since fallen out of favor from the party following his alleged insubordination against high ranking party leaders.
Mr Mutiti was speaking during a news conference in Lusaka today.
And MMD Lusaka province women chairperson Jean Mkalipi has warned former Defense Minister, George Mpombo against continuing attacking President Rupiah Banda.
Ms Mkalipi said Mr Mpombo misled himself when he resigned as defense minister.
She warns Mr Mpombo, who is also Kafulafuta MP, of what she terms, stiff consequences from MMD cadres if he continues attacking President Banda.
Ms Mkalipi also reminded Catholic priests to clear their names of sex abuse rather than commenting on Zambia?s political activities.
[ MUV TV ]
A Siavonga magistrate court has sentenced a Zimbabwean woman to 12 months simple imprisonment for trafficking in marijuana.
Magistrate Bathromeo Kaonga today slapped the 12 months jail sentence on Ndaizivei shumbayaonda, 23 a resident of Malongwana village in Zimbabwe after convicting her of the offence of trafficking in psychotropic substances contrary to section 6 of the narcotic drug and psychotropic substance act chapter 96 of the laws of Zambia.
Facts before the court were that on August 16 this year in Chirundu, Ndaizivei did traffic in marijuana weighing 50 grammes without lawful authority.
The court heard that Ndaizivei was found by Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) officers from Chirundu under a tree at Tukamona area where she was selling Mazoe juice and the said marijuana
DEC officers conducted a search and found a transparent plastic which contained a green vegetable substance which was later tested at a laboratory and found to be canabis weighing 50 grammes.
In passing judgment magistrate Kaonga said from the evidence on record, it was clear that Ndaizivei did traffic in marijuana.
The magistrate noted that the offence committed was a serious one but pointed out that being a first offender, Ndaizivei was entitled to leniency.
And in mitigation, Ndaizivei pleaded for the court’s leniency on the ground that she was a first offender and did not traffic in the substance deliberately.
She said she has a problem of evil spirits and therefore uses marijuana when the spirits attack her and she also uses the drug for her chest problems.
Consumer Unit Trust Society (CUTS) international has warned the Zambian government against effecting price controls as it introduces the uniform pump prices of fuel on the market.
CUTS centre coordinator Patrick Chengo said that if government allows its own price controls to flood the market, it is clear that the UPP will only cause more harm than good.
“This is because price controls will limit the benefit of the consumer and affect the competitiveness the sector,” Mr Chengo said
Mr. chengo said that there is need for government to realize that both the consumer and those competing for the same market benefit from its decision to unify the pump prices.
He said it is possible that if government’s decision affects the competitiveness in the fuel market, the demand might go high but the supply will drop owing to the fact that companies will decide to pull out.
[pullquote]”This is because price controls will limit the benefit of the consumer and affect the competitiveness the sector,” Mr Chengo said[/pullquote]
Mr chengo also noted that currently, the urban consumer has been forced to subsidize the rural consumers because government did not implement its mechanism properly.
He has,therefore, called for a further reduction of the prices to ensure that the benefits are felt by everyone across the country.
Mr Chengo noted that with the threats that the price controls under the uniform pump price poses on the competition, there is need to drop the prices further down.
[ QFM ]
President Banda, flanked by First Lady Thandiwe reads his speech during the opening of Parliament
By Henry Kyambalesa
Compared to the speech President Rupiah Banda delivered in 2009 to the National Assembly, the recent one was more comprehensive and informative about government projects and programs, especially if the cited accomplishments in healthcare, education, vocational training, and transportation infrastructure are actually true. The speech could serve well as a persuasive appeal to voters to give the President and the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) another term of office.
However, I believe the President made a false claim in his introductory remarks that Zambia was reeling from the effects of the global financial and economic crisis when he addressed the National Assembly in 2009, and that the country has made a remarkable recovery from the crisis. [pullquote]the President needs to wean our beloved country from its current addiction to loans, and its dependence on foreign aid that is generally variable and unreliable in nature
[/pullquote]
There was no single sector of the Zambian economy that was adversely affected by the global financial and economic crisis. In fact, the unprecedented socio-economic problems which faced our country before the global financial and economic crisis have continued to haunt the country today. They include widespread unemployment, an educational system that casts nearly half of Grade 7 and Grade 9 students onto the streets every year, a healthcare system which cannot meet the basic needs of the majority of citizens, and a critical shortage of decent public housing nationwide.
Moreover, public infrastructure and services have continued to be deficient, civil servants are still not adequately compensated for their services, a lot of civil service retirees cannot get their hard-earned benefits, and, among a host of other socio-economic ills, crime is still rampant.
Besides, it would have been more appropriate for the President to thank and specifically mention the cooperating partners whose support of government projects and programs over the years has been indispensable – especially bilateral cooperating partners like China, Canada (CIDA), Denmark (DANIDA), France, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan (JICA), The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden (SIDA), USA (USAID), and the United Kingdom (DFID).
Also, it was disingenuous for the President not to have acknowledged the fact that most of the projects and programs he cited in his speech were actually initiated before he assumed office as President. For example, the Chipata-Mchinji railway project was initiated in 1982 as a joint venture involving Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique during the UNIP administration.
And the President needs to wean our beloved country from its current addiction to loans, and its dependence on foreign aid that is generally variable and unreliable in nature. He can do so by creating a smaller government that will largely live within its means – a government designed to perform existing and planned essential government functions with the 12 ministries I have suggested below, which is slightly larger than my initial proposal for 10 Cabinet-level portfolios.
Education, Training and Sport:
To be directly responsible for advising the President on, and spearheading the implementation of policies relating to, the following: general and tertiary education; vocational training; the training of teachers; adult literacy programs; matters concerning remuneration for teachers, lecturers, trainers, and researchers; and sporting programs in all educational and training institutions. And coordination of national programs and activities pertaining to education, training and sport with those of private institutions, as well as local governments nationwide.
Public Health and Sanitation:
To be directly responsible for advising the President on, and spearheading the implementation of policies relating to, the following: medical care, medical research, child health and development, family planning, disease control and prevention, food safety (local and imported foodstuff), drug safety (local and imported medicines), safety of herbal medicines, public health education, public health inspections, and matters concerning remuneration for public health personnel. And coordination of national public health programs and activities with those of private health care facilities and local governments.
Agriculture and Food Security:
To be directly responsible for advising the President on, and spearheading the implementation of policies relating to, the following: sustainable agricultural development and long-term food security – including the provision of agricultural incentives, support to agribusiness establishments and agricultural research centers, damming rivers, and construction of irrigation canals. And coordination of national programs and activities pertaining to agriculture and food security with those of the private sector and local governments.
Finance and Revenue:
To be directly responsible for advising the President on, and spearheading the implementation of policies relating to, the following: financial matters and monetary issues, including the stock / securities market; national debt management and external debt resolution; management of all state-owned enterprises; administration, dispensation and recovery of loans granted to students and trainees admitted to institutions of higher learning, and management of a government scholarship fund through a new Loans and Scholarships Committee; and revenue generation through taxation, customs and excise duties, service fees / charges, superintendence over the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA), and provision of postal services through the Zambia Postal Services Corporation (ZAMPOST).
Commerce and Industry:
To be directly responsible for advising the President on, and spearheading the implementation of policies relating to, the following: trade and industrialization strategy, tourism, mining, the energy sector, business and investment promotion, regulation of imports and exports, trade relations, registration of foreign companies, research and development (R&D) support for local manufacturers, and superintendence over the operations of the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA). And coordination of national commercial and industrial programs and activities with those of local governments.
National Defence and Security:
To be directly responsible for advising the President on, and spearheading the implementation of policies relating to, the following: enhancement of national defence and security — including the issues of training, equipment and matters concerning remuneration and housing for defence and security personnel.
Public Safety and Security:
To be directly responsible for advising the President on, and spearheading the implementation of policies relating to, the following: the protection of life and property; the preservation of law and order; the detection and prevention of crime; and cooperation with other security organs of the government and local communities in dealing with public safety and security. And coordination of these functions with related functions of private security companies and local governments.
Works, Supply and Transport:
To be directly responsible for advising the President on, and spearheading the implementation of policies relating to, the following: utilization and management of State-owned pieces of land; provision and maintenance of vital infrastructure nationwide – including an efficient, inter-modal and safe network of ground and air transportation; development of malleable stretches of the Zambezi, Kafue, Luangwa and other sizable perennial rivers for water transportation – including the proposed Shire-Zambezi Waterway involving Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique; and construction, renovation and maintenance of government facilities and pieces of property nationwide. And coordination of these functions with the related functions of local governments.
Lands and Public Housing:
To be directly responsible for advising the President on, and spearheading the implementation of policies relating to, the following: delineation, administration and development of state and customary lands; issuance of title deeds; resolution of land-related disputes; provision of consent in the acquisition, transfer and leasing of lands; implementation of home ownership schemes for all civil servants; provision of low-cost rental housing units for low-income families; management of a home-ownership scheme for low-income families to be financed through low interest mortgages; stipulation of fair eligibility requirements to be met by applicants for low-income rental public housing; generation of rules of occupancy, and determination of rental and other related charges; and derivation of a grievance procedure and guidelines for resolving any and all the issues and matters relating to non-compliance with rules of occupancy.
Culture and Community Services:
To be directly responsible for advising the President on, and spearheading the implementation of policies relating to, the following: preservation of the country’s national treasures, including national monuments, museums, historical sites, cherished traditional and cultural values; promotion of traditional music and culture-related crafts; House of Chiefs and traditional leaders; national unity and patriotism; religious harmony; national ceremonies and festivals; and issues relating to women, children, disabled citizens, and retirees and the aged. And coordination of national cultural and community programs and activities with those of local governments.
Justice, Prisons and Immigration:
To be directly responsible for advising the President on, and spearheading the implementation of policies relating to, the following: legal matters (including representation of the Government), protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms, administration of the Zambia Prison Service, legal aid, title deeds, national registration, passports and immigration, citizenship and naturalization, work permits, treaties and agreements with other countries, intellectual property rights (patents, copyrights and trademarks), and remuneration for judicial personnel and support staff.
Foreign Affairs:
To be directly responsible for advising the President on, and spearheading the implementation of policies relating to, the following: foreign political relations, including conflict resolution and peace-keeping efforts; consular affairs and services; profiles of foreign countries; services and vital information to Zambians in, or traveling to, foreign countries; publicizing Zambian society abroad; and management of a program which shall confer rare and special Zambian Residency status upon a selected number of distinguished foreigners.
The foregoing functions need to be performed by technocrats, not figureheads! And we should guard against establishing new government ministries for the purpose of creating jobs for friends, such as the splitting of the Ministry of Agriculture into 2 ministries. It would have made a bit of sense if this was a “line” rather than a “staff” ministry. The United States, for example, has only 1 solid Federal Department of Agriculture – a country with around 310 million people and a much, much larger agricultural sector.
In addition to the smaller number of Cabinet Ministers, there is a need to abolish the positions of Deputy Minister and District Commissioner, as well as reduce the number of Zambia’s foreign embassies by having clusters of countries to be served by single embassies. Further, we should not entertain any calls for the creation of the position of Prime Minister.
And there is a need to go through government expenditures line by line, program by program, agency by agency, department by department, and ministry by ministry in order to eliminate unnecessary application of public funds.
Civil servants in ministries to be abolished or merged should be encouraged to seek early retirement with full benefits. Professional and skilled civil servants should be re-deployed in the new government ministries and agencies.
MMD cadres
The MMD has said Mongu Diocese Catholic Bishop Paul Duffy is safe and does not need to worry about being attacked by the party’s youth wing.
Speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, MMD deputy national chairperson Chembe Nyangu maintained the party was not violent, as purported by some sections of society.
Reacting to concerns raised by Non-Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) executive director Engwase Mwale’s calls that the MMD should come out in the open to denounce the Copperbelt youth wing militia allegedly threatening to travel to Mongu to sort out Bishop Duffy, Mr Nyangu said there would be no harm on the cleric.
“Bishop Duffy is safe as far as our position is, the MMD is not a violent party, all we are asking of him is to tone down, our stance is clear as a party, we do not condone violence,” he said.
[pullquote]“It does not mean that we have not taken any action against our members who made threats against Bishop Duffy, we do not need to go to the media to announce what course of action we took,” he said.
“We are the same people who have taken the United Party for National Development (UPND) to court for alleged violence during the Mufumbwe by-election, this is because we do not condone violence, so how can we turn around and change our position today?” he questioned.[/pullquote]
He said the party leadership counselled its youth wing on the Copperbelt, and assured the public that no harm would be done to Bishop Duffy.
Mr Nyangu said there was no way a party that strongly condemned violence, would change its stance in order to harm people in the country.
“It does not mean that we have not taken any action against our members who made threats against Bishop Duffy, we do not need to go to the media to announce what course of action we took,” he said.
“We are the same people who have taken the United Party for National Development (UPND) to court for alleged violence during the Mufumbwe by-election, this is because we do not condone violence, so how can we turn around and change our position today?” he questioned.
Mr Nyangu said the party leadership in Western Province would seek audience with the Bishop, to reach an amicable agreement.
This follows calls by both Mrs Mwale and Fr Patrick Chibuye of Mpika who called for action to be taken against the MMD militia for allegedly threatening violence on Bishop Duffy.
The two were quoted in Tuesday’s edition of The Post newspaper as having said that any form of violence would impact negatively, and called on the MMD to discipline those championing such causes.
Last week, Copperbelt MMD information secretary Chiko Chibale was quoted as having said the MMD in the province would not condone the continued attacks on the party and Government by Bishop Duffy, and the party would constitute a crack squad to manhandle the clergyman.
[ Times of Zambia ]
President Rupiah Banda
President Rupiah Banda yesterday launched a personal website, which he intends to use to communicate his personal and official messages to the wider public.
According to a statement issued by the president’s special assistant for Press and public relations Dickson Jere in Lusaka yesterday the website – www.presidentbanda.com – will be financed by a group of his supporters.
He said the site would also contain political messages and samples of his approved campaign regalia, which cannot be posted on his official State House website.
“It is another great way to help me keep in contact with you,” President Banda said in his welcome message to the website.
“It will show many of the things that I am doing for us, the people of Zambia, to make our country better and more prosperous for the future, ensure peace, security and stability for all our children,” the president said.
Mr Jere said the new website will complement the official State House website where his official messages and programmes will continue to be posted.
[pullquote]“It is another great way to help me keep in contact with you,” President Banda said in his welcome message to the website.
“It will show many of the things that I am doing for us, the people of Zambia, to make our country better and more prosperous for the future, ensure peace, security and stability for all our children,” the president said.[/pullquote]
Meanwhile, President Banda arrived in Pretoria South Africa yesterday where he made a stopover before proceeding to Mozambique.
Mr Jere said yesterday that the president left for South Africa and Mozambique for consultations on a number of issues.
First Lady Thandiwe Banda and other senior Government officials have accompanied the president.
[ Times of Zambia ]
UPND Spokesperson Charles Kakoma (R) and Patriotic Front Secretary General Wynter Kabimba (l)
THE United Party for National Development (UPND) has described Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Wynter Kabimba as the enemy of the PF/UPND pact.
UPND chairperson for energy Garry Nkombo said in Lusaka yesterday that the party was shocked to hear of the statement by Mr Kabimba that the PF/UPND pact working group was yet to meet to decide which party would represent the pact in the Chilanga by-election.
Meanwhile, the PF has distanced itself from the statement made by Mr Kabimba in relation to the adoption of the candidate for the Chilanga polls.
Mr Nkombo told Radio Phoenix in Lusaka yesterday that the PF should come out in the open and state whether Mr Kabimba made the statement in his personal capacity or was doing so on behalf of the party.
He urged PF leader Michael Sata to educate Mr Kabimba on the ‘spirit of the pact’.
“If he (Mr Kabimba) is not interested in the pact he must come out openly. They must come out and say if this is the PF position. This clearly shows that Mr Kabimba is the enemy of the pact,” Mr Nkombo said.
Mr Kabimba told Radio Phoenix in an interview on Tuesday that the pact was yet to decide on a candidate to contest the October 28 Chilanga by-election when in fact the pact’s working group met on Monday and unanimously resolved that the UPND would field a candidate for the by-election.
Mr Nkombo who attended the meeting of the working group in his capacity as secretary said the meeting was also attended by Mandevu MP, Jean Kapata, Kanyama MP, Gerry Chanda, UPND secretary general Winston Chibwe and Siavonga MP, Douglas Syakalima.
Mr Nkombo wondered where the secretary general of the PF got the courage to continue to mislead the ‘spirit of the pact’.
And when contacted for a comment, PF spokesperson Given Lubinda said he had listened to what Mr Nkombo had said and added that what Mr Kabimba said did not reflect the position of the party.
He said it was true that the working group meeting met and that probably Mr Kabimba was speaking from the point of ignorance.
“Probably Wynter made that statement out of ignorance. My assumption is that he was making the statement out of ignorance,” he said.
Mr Lubinda referred all queries to Mr Kabimba, but attempts to contact Mr Kabimba failed as his mobile phone went unanswered.
The Ila cultural group for Chief Mungaila performing at his installation in Namwala
The Shimunenga Organizing Committee has announced October 16 and 17, this year as the dates when the Shimunenga ceremony of the Ila speaking people of Namwala District would take place.
In a letter obtained by ZANIS today, committee chairman Mr. Amos Kaande said the annual event this year is expected to be more colourful and extended the invitation to all Zambians and people from all over the world to join in the celebrations.
The Shimunenga is an annual ceremony of the Ila people of Namwala to pay respects to their ancestors at the shrine and culminates in the showing of cattle wealth.
Meanwhile, the ministry of Agriculture in NAMWALA District has called for tenders transporters for the distribution of the 2010/2011 fertilizer and seed maize within the District.
Speaking to ZANIS today, Acting Districts Agriculture Coordinator Mr Godwin Chate said preparations to start the Distribution exercise under the Farmers Input Support Programme [ FISP] has reached an advanced stage.
He emphasized that the Ministry in the District want to expedite the distribution exercise to enable farmers prepare adequately for the 2010/2011 farming season.
The government through FISP has allocated 32,720 by 50 kilogrammes of fertilizer and 32,720 by 10 kilogrammes of seed for Namwala District for the 2010/2010 farming season.
