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EU taxpayers’ money meant to benefit ordinary Zambians – Fee

EU taxpayers’ money meant to benefit ordinary Zambians – Fee
By Agness Changala
Mon 23 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT

EUROPEAN Union (EU) head of delegation in Zambia Derek Fee on Saturday reiterated that EU’s taxpayers’ money is meant to benefit ordinary Zambians.

Dr Fee said this when he committed to Zambia 4.6 million euros about K32 billion through World Food Programme (WFP) meant for urban food vouchers project during the launch of the Mobile Delivery Tracking in Kafue.

The agreement which was signed between Dr Fee and WFP country representative Pablo Recalde would last over 18 months.

Dr Fee said the 4.6 million euros would assist improve the lives of malnourished children, those on Anti Retrial Viral (ARV) drugs and Tuberculosis (TB) patients.

“This will be implemented by the WFP, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) and will contribute to improving the lives of the vulnerable in society,” he said.

Dr Fee also called on improved productivity of food by investing in the agriculture sector, saying Zambia had enough resources to produce more food.

And WFP together with other partners lunched the Mobile Delivery and Tracking (MDT) system which is a new food distribution mechanism to address hunger among the vulnerable households.

Recalde explained that MDT was developed by local financial services and software specialists.
He said the system involved the use of mobile phone technology allowing for real time registration of beneficiaries and the movement of money to suppliers of the food.

Recalde said the approach followed a similar system as that of the scratch card by mobile phone networks in Zambia.

He said the targeted beneficiaries would receive a scratch card through a clinic or health centre which identified them to a specified food ration basket from the designated retail agents in their respective locations.

Recalde said each scratch card had a specified value and was redeemable only within that district.
He said the programme’s overall objective was to ensure food security among the most vulnerable households affected by the rising cost of staple food commodities.

“The programme will protect livelihoods of the very poor, those affected by the high food prices as well as create a sustainable and cost effective delivery mechanism of food commodities and strengthen a coordinated approach to targeted safety nets,” Recalde said.

He said his organisation was committed to work in line with the government’s Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) in ensuring that Zambians were empowered at individual and household levels.

“This will increase private sector participation in the economy which will help the country achieve its 2030 vision of becoming a middle income country by that date,” said Recalde.

And Kafue member of parliament Bradford Machila said the innovation that had been initiated would contribute greatly to alleviating the immediate hunger needs of the households negatively affected by high food prices and the global financial crisis.

Machila, who is also Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, observed that as a result of the MDT system, the logistical and operational costs of traditional food delivery mechanisms would be reduced while local markets would be empowered by making use of the resources available in the community.

“Above all, this new system will create a sustainable and efficient food delivery mechanism to vulnerable households, contribute to reducing household food insecurity and help in shifting people towards sustainable demand,” he said.

Machila said the programme which was first launched in his constituency would benefit 1,000 vulnerable households in Kafue and 139,000 people in Lusaka, Ndola, Livingstone and Mongu districts.

Labels: DEREK FEE, DONORS, EU, HYPOCRISY

posted by MrK @ 12:26 PM