Maravi

Sinazongwe DC bemoans rise in bogus businesspersons

Sinazongwe DC bemoans rise in bogus businesspersons
By Brina Manenga in Sinazongwe
Sat 04 June 2011, 04:00 CAT

SINAZONGWE district commissioner Oliver Pelete says the increasing number of fraudulent business people in the area is depriving the local farmers of development.

In an interview on Thursday, Pelete said it was unfortunate that the unsuspecting local farmers were talked into selling their maize at cheap prices due to lack of market.

“Lately, we have had an increase in the number of briefcase business people. These people go deep into the areas within the districts. So because our farmers find it difficult to move their maize to the central district to sell their maize they easily sell their produce to these (briefcase business) people,” Pelete said.

“These people tell our farmers to give them their maize produce and the payment
would be done later. However, they take long to pay the farmers and at very low
prices. Some come with commodities like salaula (second-hand clothes) or cooking oil and they exchange that with the maize.”

He said the commissioner’s office had been working with the farmers to ensure that such cases were dealt with.

“Based on such cases, I have appealed and sensitised the farmers to ensure that their maize is kept properly. We have told them to be cautious. That way, they will be able to sell at good prices when government starts buying from them,” Pelete said.

He appealed to the government to increase the farmers’ input in the district form the farmers to produce enough food to last them the whole year.

Pelete also said the poor road network was another challenge that farmers in
the district were facing.

Labels: ENTREPRENEURS, FARMERS, OLIVER PELETE

posted by MrK @ 10:56 PM