The Seed Growers Association (SGA) for Mumbwa District has advised the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to improve on the payments of money to farmers .

District Seed Growers Association Chairperson Phariot Phiri charged that most farmers were unsatisfied with the slow remittal payments from the FRA.

He said due to this trend, that many farmers have opted to sell their maize to private buyers and millers who were buying grain at K50,000 spot cash per 50kg bag.
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He said the situation was un favourable to farmers who needed to utilize the monies on preparations for the next farming season as well as production needs.

Mr. Phiri however counseled farmers to keep abreast with factors such as weather pattern predictions and world fuel price trends, which had a bearing on agricultural activities.

He stated that the rising prices of fuel had pushed up the costs of farming inputs such as seed as well as fertilizer.

He said it was important for farmers to have some insight of weather predictions so that they could buy the right seeds to be planted at the right time.

On hunger , Mr. Phiri said the hunger situation was not generally as rampant as claimed .

He said the Seed Growers Association had in stock enough to enable the District achieve food security from the 2008-2009 farming season.

And FARMERS in Monze district have called on government to seriously look into issues of marketing and come up with sustainable strategies that would empower small scale farmers.

Monze Pemba farmers Association Chairman Simon Malambo many farmers would have been victims of unscrupulous maize dealers due to inadequate satellite depots.

Speaking during the Monze Pemba farmers Association annual general meeting held at the Zambia College of Agriculture toady, Mr. Malambo said Monze district like other districts in the country had two satellite depots only which where not adequate during this marketing season.

Mr. Malambo said that government should other than encouraging private sector to participate put in place regulation that will prevent the exploitation of farmers.

He thanked government for ensuring that agriculture gets the rightful support and respect as a major contributing sector to the country’s economic development during the reign of late president Levy Mwanawasa.

And Monze district commissioner Joyce Nondo said in a speech read on her behalf by the district administrative officer Mr. Holland Munsaka said that government would continue considering agriculture as the engine of Zambia’s economic and social development.

Ms. Nonde admitted that the cry of small farmers over marketing issues were serious and needed to be addressed in order to empower the farmers.

She said though the district had Njola and Milele satellite depots , that small scale farmers were finding it difficult to reach the depots as they were made to cover many kilometers.

She said that the office of the District Commissioner had already written to Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and other relevant authorities to consider increasing the number of depots and come up with regulations for the private sector participation.

Ms. Nonde said that through Fertilizer Support Program (FSP) government had the desire to ensure that the rural majority are food secure.

The DC said government’s vision was to have an efficient, competitive and sustainable agricultural sector that would assure food security and increased income as enshrined in the fifth national development plan 2006-2010.
ZANIS/PB/MK/ENDS

Kitwe Chamber of Commerce and Industry  (KCCI) has challenged Zambian businessmen and the nation at large to vote for a Presidential candidate who was capable of wining Investor confidence both locally and internationally in order to  maintain the positive economic growth recorded so far.

KCCI President Eddie Kapungulya said there was need for Zambians to vote for a Presidential candidate who was going to manage the Zambian economy and propel it to great heights like the departed President Levy Mwanawasa had done.

Speaking in an Interview with the ZANIS  in Kitwe today,  Mr. Kapungulya observed that currently most of the investors were holding on to their projects following the death of Dr Mwanawasa .

He said people  should  rally behind a Presidential candidate who understood the operations of the Private sector and the general economy.

Mr. Kapungulya stated members of his organisation under the leadership of the late  President had contributed significantly to the growth of the economy through business transactions awarded to them by the mining Companies  and related industries.
He appealed to Zambians to engage in peaceful campaigns based national issues as the country  goes for the  Presidential bye election slated for  October 30 .

Former Republican Vice President, Nevers Mumba, has filled an injunction to restrain his land lord from selling the house which he is currently occupying.

The house on Plot Number 2883A, on the Great East Road, in Lusaka, belongs to Wilhem Roma Buchman.

In his statement of claim Dr. Mumba says on or about October 30, 2006, Mr. Buchman offered him to rent the property with an option of buying it which he accepted.

The two parties executed a lease agreement for a term of one year, which Dr. Mumba now claims is not being respected.

On May 14 this year, Mr. Buchman offered Dr. Mumba to buy the house for 850 thousand US Dollars.

The terms of offer on buying the house were stipulated and the first installment was to be paid on December, 31 2008 with an initial sum of 255,000 Dollars.

Dr. Mumba said he has not been able to conclude the purchase of the property and has been greatly inconvenienced.

Dr. Mumba was one of the people who contested the MMD elections recently to choose a presidential candidate.

[ZNBC]

By Dr. Chiyaba Njovu

Lessons for the future of Zambia

We are told that if we use history, we may lose one eye but if we forget history we may lose both eyes. It is not my intention to discuss the three individuals who have occupied the office of President of Zambia since our independence. However, as they are part of our history, there is a need to make reference where this becomes relevant. The history of the three Zambian presidents must help in guiding us into what must be demanded from whoever takes over as Zambia’s fourth President.

As a nation, we know where we have come from; we know what amounts to good leadership and we know what amounts to bad leadership. We can analyze, assess, evaluate and later extrapolate what outcomes certain policy measures are likely to yield. In other words, our requirements are well known. What is not known at this stage, however, is how best to meet these requirements. No politician ever answers this question; I am yet to hear one answer it. What is required is not only a political solution to our problems but a pragmatic one if Zambia is to build on Dr. Mwanawasas legacy. It has to be pragmatic leadership because of the constraints defined by the circumstances in which we have found ourselves. We need a leader to steer Zambia to its destiny a better place for all. He/she will be constrained in many ways but a good leader unlocks constraints and converts them into opportunities. That is the challenge.

I recall listening to Dr. Kaunda in 1991, just before the multiparty elections. Dr. Kaunda advised Zambians against making a mistake in choosing the leadership. He repeatedly used these words and I quote; “Countrymen, not anyone who smokes dagga and shouts can lead. Leadership is a serious challenge that requires sober minds“ At that time, most of us dismissed Dr. Kaunda’s sentiments as partisan and self preserving. But with hindsight, Dr. Kaunda was being sincere to the nation. He cared about the nation and was concerned about what was about to happen. He knew from experience the characters of most of those who were aspiring for office at the time. History is there for all to judge. Zambia had a huge opportunity to build on Dr. Kaunda’s legacy and could have developed faster than we ever thought. But what happened? We were driven ten years backwards.Unfortunately, we are at the same cross roads now as we were in 1991 but under different circumstances.

We have the advantage of having experienced change of leadership twice and I believe we are better equipped to objectively define our destiny. We can only deceive ourselves if we voted on tribal or partisan lines as the Office of President affects all irrespective of tribe or party affiliation. We need to elect a leader who will look at Zambia as a nation he/she would wish to live in as an ordinary citizen and still enjoy the quality of life as a human being. We need to reflect on Dr. Mwanawasas message and assess the characters of the people aspiring for leadership and whether they are suitably qualified to handle the challenges ahead. In as much as democracy does not always guarantee victory for the most competent leader, I would love to believe that Zambians have learnt enough not to allow themselves to be manipulated by people we all know will not deliver on their promises. They have made far too many promises in the governments they have served that we can now see through them like a transparent glass. For them, its presidency at all costs! These are the people we do not need. These are people who will use the Presidency to fulfill their deflated egos.

We need a leader and not anything that can shout. A leader, who would spend time analyzing existing systems and work on measures to strengthen these systems for the benefit of all. Our nation currently needs strong systems and not good people. A good system managed by knowledgeable people can reform bad people and make them productive or else they loose out. That is what we need. Proper leadership, with a vision and attention to detail. Leadership of a nation is a serious undertaking and that as Zambians we must know that anyone who applies for a job they know they cannot do is committing a crime. It is fraud as the nation would pay him/her handsomely for the services the nation may never receive.

Dr. Mwanawasa may not have lived to achieve all that he desired for mother Zambia but his legacy must be guarded jealously if Zambia is to prosper. Let us think objectively and help build a Zambia in which we shall all be proud to live. Dr. Mwanawasa, we shall always remember you as an inspiring leader who worked under very difficult circumstances. I do not need to elaborate on this fact. In Gods eyes, everything that happens to you is in your interests. Everything happens for a purpose. Once more, may his soul rest in peace. Good luck mother Zambia.

Reflecting on Dr. Mwanawasas farewell message to the nation

By Dr. Chiyaba Njovu

When I first heard about our late president’s pre-recorded message to the nation, I wondered what the message was all about; could it be related to his desire for his preferred successor? Could it be about his views on the corrupt people or just what could it be? Just why did he record this message? Well, after reading the message in full from different parts of the press, I have come to realise that people perceive power and indeed use power differently. Some people perceive power as a status symbol, others perceive it as a control tool or a measure of their greatness and yet others perceive power as an honor to have their chance to help better the society they lead. Reading that message again, I have come to realise that people do perceive and live their lives differently. Some people live their lives by the day and cannot care less about what happens tomorrow. Others lead a purposeful life that makes them reflect on the past, present and possibly the future. They care about others and value other people. Dr. Mwanawasas message teaches us two things about him. It tells us about him as a person and him as a person in power.

Dr. Mwanawasa as a Person

As a person, Dr. Mwanawasa lived a purposeful life. I am saying this because I had an opportunity of meeting him in different capacities, as an ordinary citizen and as republican President. He spent time thinking about his immediate family, his relatives, his friends and the nation. He demonstrated these traits in different ways. He guided people genuinely with all his heart with the view that they too could develop and live meaningful lives. He openly told people what his views on an issue would be and encouraged people to think seriously about their actions each time. He advised people about the dangers of living beyond ones means and the dangers of an insatiable desire for wealth. In other words, his desire was to see his family, his relatives, his friends and the general populaces in Zambia aspire for better lives. He espoused the value of the rule of law in society at all times. He wished people a life of opportunities for themselves, a life of desire through hard work, honest and sincerity. He fought against injustice, poverty, ignorance, exploitation of man by man and disease. He viewed these as traits that were obstacles to people’s desire for meaningful lives. He viewed a society devoid of these vices as a better society. He reflected on the plight of the poor; cared about the children, the orphans; the disabled, the sick irrespective of who they were and indeed all the disadvantaged people in society. And above all, he detested treachery and dishonesty. In other words, he did unto others as he would expect them to do unto him.

Dr. Mwanawasa as a leader

As a leader, Dr. Mwanawasa had the desire to help better the society he presided over. He reflected on the plight of the nation in keeping with his purpose in life. He gave deep thoughts about the nation and what he could do to help better the nation. He identified key issues in a better society, opportunity creation through prudent resource management; honest in public office; integrity in dealing with others and indeed care for the human being irrespective of their status in society. A look at his actions in life confirms this in many ways. And this is what won him international accolades. He was modest in all his dealings. He was never afraid to tell anyone his piece of mind and was prepared to say sorry whenever he made a mistake. He never showed any desires for materials, and encouraged people to lead modest, humble but genuinely honest lives. Though he had access to all the trappings of wealth one can imagine, he never showed any desire for glamorous things and went on his business as if he was an ordinary citizen. He worked as hard as anyone on his businesses and showed that, like anyone else, he could earn his living as an individual and not using his office.

Fight against corruption

His fight against corruption was motivated by his desire to make Zambia a better place and not malice. It was a fight to demonstrate that people in leadership must respect public resources. It was not a fight against any individual and there was nothing political about it in his mind. It was a fight to serve as a lesson to serving leaders and those that aspire for leadership. Though we are all entitled to our own opinions on this, an objective assessment of the facts emerging from the courts of law and the conduct of those accused of corruption only serve to confirm that some people committed crimes for which justice was demanded. There is nothing wrong in spotting a crime and demanding that the culprit be brought to book. This is what justice demands. This is what Dr. Mwanawasa demonstrated. He demanded justice for all irrespective of ones status in society. It is such bold and courageous actions that can help shape Zambia into a better nation. A nation governed by the rule of law; a nation where people respect each other as human beings; a nation where people could be proud of doing business without the fear of being conned. A nation where each individual feels proud to own what they would like if they can genuinely afford it. I am a strong believer of the hard work culture. I respect honest hard working people. I respect people who genuinely work for what they own but I detest dishonest people no matter what favors they would shower at me. I detest acquiring wealth dubiously or indeed taking advantage of ones position to acquire wealth. Dishonesty is a cancer that has destroyed many families and indeed many societies. Dishonesty coupled with an insatiable desire for meaningless wealth has created wars and shuttered many societies. I have had the privilege of traveling extensively and have visited countries where these have happened and would never wish such a scenario for anybody. A corrupt nation cannot inspire people. Corruption creates helplessness and hopelessness in the disadvantaged and blinds the tricksters from reality. A corrupt nation is a doomed nation and there is no better way to describe it. These are all lessons we can learn from Dr. Mwanawasas leadership. We shall dearly miss him. May his soul rest in peace.