Maravi

Farmers didn't receive enough fertiliser, says Mpezeni

Farmers didn't receive enough fertiliser, says Mpezeni
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Tue 03 Jan. 2012, 13:45 CAT

PARAMOUNT Chief Mpezeni says the 2011/2012 farming season will not be good because farmers did not receive enough fertiliser. And Luangeni independent parliamentarian Charles Zulu says the government still has a lot of work to do to develop the country.

In an interview with journalists who accompanied Zulu who was on a tour of the constituency on Saturday, Mpezeni said the fertiliser issue was a big programme.

"People did not receive enough fertiliser; others were getting two packs, others were getting one and they are also being made to share these packs. Sometimes they even share one bag. So this is the problem that we have encountered," Mpezeni said.

He said the chiefs were facing problems from their subjects because of the fertiliser problems.

He also said 2011 had ended very well. "Uku kumapeto ndiye kwa naona kuti chawama wama chaka ichi (I have seen that this year 2011 has been good towards the end). I don't think the beginning or the middle of the year was good because you saw even yourselves that this road (Feni) was not good. But this time you even speed on the same road because it has been worked on during the three months the new President has been in office," Mpezeni said.

He also commended President Michael Sata for reconciling with his Malawian counterpart Bingu wa Mutharika after differences that emanated from Sata's deportation from Malawi in 2007.

"When two elephants are fighting, the grass always suffers so if they were not in good terms it means us the people are the ones that were suffering. What they have done is good because Malawians and Zambians are one people. I have over 16 Ngoni chiefs in Malawi, so if they are in problems, it means I am also in problems," Mpezeni said.

He appealed to the government to construct more schools, hospitals and roads this year.

And Zulu who is also lands, energy and water development deputy minister said he was hopeful that the government would manage to develop the country.

He said he was glad that the government was working on a number of the projects in Luangeni and other parts of the country.

"You have seen that the electrification of Katandala clinic has started, the water affairs department would also work on the Feni dam. You have seen that government has electrified Kanyanja health post. So these are some of the projects that are being undertaken but we hope to do the best for this country," Zulu said.

He urged Zambians to change their negative attitude towards work to develop the country.

Acting Eastern Province Zesco manager Webby Kabinga said the electrification of Katandala clinic would cost K46 million and that it would be completed in the next three weeks.

Labels: CHIEF MPEZENI, FERTILIZER, FISP

posted by MrK @ 5:56 PM