Don’t scare investors – RB
PRESIDENT Banda says the planned demonstrations against high mealie meal prices by some opposition political parties may instill fear in potential and established investors in the country. He was speaking upon his arrival at Chipata airport yesterday in Eastern Province.
President Banda said investors do not want to invest in countries where citizens were always planning demonstrations or protests because the practice affected their investments.
He said there should be continued unity and peace in the country to encourage investment for development to take root.
Mr Banda said it was for this reason that government was adamant against allowing the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) to hold demonstrations against high mealie meal prices.
He reaffirmed government’s commitment to address uncertainty in the mining sector in Luanshya.
Luanshya mine will soon be placed on a care and maintenance programme after it ceased production.
Mr Banda said government’s efforts to bring other investors to revamp the mining industry would be disturbed by the planned demonstrations.
“Government will do everything possible to bring other investors but we need to instill confidence through peace and unity,” he said.
Mr Banda appealed to Zambians to concentrate on cultivating their fields to improve agriculture production in the country.
“We need to produce more food and develop the nation,” he said.
Mr Banda applauded the people of Eastern Province for their support in the October 30 presidential election.
He said he was happy that people did not vote on tribal lines.
Earlier, Eastern Province Minister Isaac Banda said people in the province were doing everything possible to produce a good harvest.
Mr Banda said people should realise that the solution to the high prices of mealie meal lay in increased agriculture production.
He said although the province had been receiving favourable rains, some districts such as Nyimba and Katete had already experienced above normal rains which had caused damage to some houses and household goods.
Mr Banda said a bridge on the Chipata/Lundazi road was recently washed away making the road impassable to trucks and other big vehicles.
And Minister of Foreign Affairs Kabinga Pande called on the people of Eastern Province to support President Banda and assist him build the economy.
Mr Pande who is in the presidential entourage said people should not just criticise Mr Banda but offer solutions to develop the country.
Meanehile, Mr Banda said it will be difficult to increase allocation of farm inputs under the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP) this season.
Mr Banda said it was difficult for government to access supplementary fertiliser because the commodity was not locally produced.
He said it was too late to restart procurement procedures.
He said this in an interview with journalists after he arrived at Chipata airport.
President Banda said it would be difficult to access the farm inputs and distribute them on time to farmers because the planting season had already began.
He, however, expressed confidence that government would increase the allocation of the farm inputs in the 2009/10 farming season.
Mr Banda also stated that the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) was in the field to address the shortage of food in some parts of Eastern Province.
Mr Banda is expected back in Lusaka tomorrow. -ZANIS
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