(LUSAKA TIMES) UPND demand resignation of FRA boss
UPND demand resignation of FRA bossPosted on March 3rd, 2008
Oposition United Party for National Development (UPND) in Mazabuka is demanding for the immediate resignation of Food Reserve Agency management for failing to pay farmers their dues since July last year. UPND District Chairman, Lloyd Buumba said FRA was demoralising farmers by not paying them on time so that they can acquire inputs. Mr Buumba said most farmers have not sent their children to school because of the delay by FRA to pay them their money.
Mr Buumba, who is also Mazabuka Central Ward Councillor, said if the FRA boss can not resign, then he should be fired because he has let down the farmers. He told farmers who were protesting at the District Commissioner’s office that government should not take advantage of the farmers’ vulnerability.
He said failure by government to pay the farmers will have a negative effect on the crop production.
Meanwhile, The Cotton Development Trust (CDT) has predicted a reduction in the production of cotton in Southern province due to the peculiar rainfall pattern that the province has experienced this farming season.
CDT Director West Chita said in an interview today that several crops will be affected by the higher than normal rainfall that the province has experienced.
Mr Chita said cotton production is expected to be low compared to last year adding that the minimum amount of cotton the province will produce could be in the range of 40 to 60 percent.
He said excessive rains caused the fields to be water logged such that weeding and pest control were difficult and challenging to the farmers.
“Our assessment is that this has been a bad season. On crops like maize the effects have already been felt but on cotton there is still some hope that through good management and depending on the weather pattern,” Chita observed.
Mr Chita said organisations that deal with small scale farmers should help in creating awareness to farmers about the effects of global warming.
“Civil society, non governmental organisations, government and ginning companies should take a holistic approach on making sure that farmers are sensitized on the effects of global warming and climate change,” Mr Chita said.
He said farmers should not leave in the dark but they should instead follow meteorological information and advice in order to adapt to the changing climate.
Labels: COTTON, FARMERS, FRA, UPND
posted by MrK @ 7:40 PM
1 Comments:
Elections are a direct way of holding politicians accountable to the public. When a leader fails to hold someone accountable, it sends the message that the leader is not serious, resulting in a form of "contagious bad behaviour". I think we all saw this in the Chiluba era. It spreads, because the people under him take their cues from how the leader behaves, rather than what the leader says. He or she needs to have high expectations of the people around him or her, and show that the work people do is important enough to hold them accountable.
Credibility matters and provides the foundation of personal leadership. Is Sata credible? Is Banda credible? Is Kalumba credible? Is Magande Credible? etc. They are all kinds of names popping up. "Zambians, your future lies in the hands of the person you elect" . Do we still want to continue being a nation of the "have and have not" Enough of recycled Politician's!!!!. Let's move the country forward and elect and appoint people to office that are "craving" to make a different for their country. We know that honesty and trustworthiness are essential to leadership. We also know that people expect leaders to have a sense of direction for their country instead of being concerned of how much of tax payer's money they can fill their pockets like the Chiluba Crew.
A responsible leader is more engaged and productive. He or she must be willing to accept accountability for producing results and continually look for ways to move the country forward. "Political accountability is the accountability of the government civil servants and politicians to the public and to legislative bodies such as parliament " He or she should make sure all civil servant have a sense of ownership in their position, establishing goals and performance standards for government employees, or offering incentives in an attempt to motivate people to comply rather than Government officials awarding themselves 100% salary increments from taxpayer's money.
"A credible leader also is someone who acts with character and integrity. Leaders earn and strengthen credibility when they know their values and have the skills and confidence necessary to act in ways consistent with those values. A leader loses credibility when his or her actions appear inconsistent with promises. Under these circumstances, honesty comes into question and trust is broken".
Further, we need a leader and not a boss to run the country. There a difference between a leader and a boss. A leader leads and his subordinates follow. A boss bosses his subordinates and they fear. In the Chiluba era, his subordinates would "crawl like babies" towards him while he comfortably sat on big sofas twice his size. I do understand we have our culture and traditions follow, but when it comes to running the country, it should be business without fear or favour. You cannot have a successfully business if you cannot put your cards on the table because you fear your superiors. Most African leaders including government officials have adopted the boss mentality, the so-called "do you know who I am mentality". This kind of mentality has contributed to the country's slow economic progress because his / her advisers are "scared" to put their ideas on the table for fear of being fired. It's quite sad that the government still forces marketeers from soweto market to go to the airport to meet the president. For God sake these are people struggling to make end meet. You take them away from their means of income, stand in the blazing sun all day, just to wave the president who normally spends less than 2 minutes in their presence, and may not even wave back to them. Does this make a leader feel more appreciated or important? "Come on!!! We are now living in the millennium"
As we put the late Mwanawasa to rest and are obviously thinking of the person to take the country to a new era, let us choose a leader that has a vision, a leader with a strategy to move the country forward, a leader that can build a dream team not only with the ability to move us forward and with a will to make a significant difference, someone that can look back one day and say, " I gave and took care of my people" and not " I took from my people" (Chiluba). Someone who not concerned about giving him/herself and others 100% salary increment before but providing better and efficient services for tax payers. Someone who tolerates different views, values and approaches. Someone certified by our Zambian doctors in South Africa, that have relocated due to poor medical and work conditions, that is he/ she is in good physical and mental health to take on the country's responsibility.
There will never be another Mwanawasa. He played his parts and will be remember for his firmness. He made a difference by being one of the few African leaders that tried get rid of corruption and clean up the mess left by his predecessor. Most African leaders inherit the corruption culture of their predecessors May his soul rest in peace
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