Maravi

(LUSAKATIMES) Quick response by alert police officers save Serenje DC from angry farmers

Quick response by alert police officers save Serenje DC from angry farmers
TIME PUBLISHED - Monday, January 9, 2012, 8:52 pm

Quick response by alert police officers saved Serenje district commissioner Ronald Sinyangwe’s life from being assaulted by irate farmers who stormed his office demanding payment for their maize produce last farming season.

ZANIS reports from Serenje today that the armed farmers stormed Mr. Sinyangwe’s office calling for his blood as they demanded payment for the maize they sold to government last year.

And Central Province minister Philip Kosamu who confirmed the development in an interview said it was unfortunate that Serenje farmers could threaten to assault the embattled District commissioner while demanding payments for their produce even after government assured them that their plight was being addressed.

Meanwhile deputy police commanding officer for central province Nelson Phiri whom Serenje district police officer commanding Daniel Museteka referred to for all queries concerning the matter said when contacted that he had not received the information.

Mr. Sinyangwe who confirmed the development to ZANIS today described the situation as tense saying the farmers, close to 100, stormed his office threatening to beat him up accusing government of deliberately delaying to pay them their money.

He said police in riot gear were quickly called in to help calm the situation as the farmers forced him to go to the Finance bank branch and ask the management to pay them from whatever amount the bank had so that government could reimburse the bank.

“the situation was tense and thanks to the police who acted professionally otherwise the farmers were in a bad mood,’ he said.

Mr. Sinyangwe said his plea for them to give government a little more time to sort out their problem of payments, seemed not to be heeded by the farmers who complained that they wanted the money to pay school fees for their children since schools have opened today.

He said the farmers who also complained of sleepless nights and hunger because they come from far flung areas also demanded transport from government to take them back to their various respective homes.

Mr Sinyangwe however said Ibolelo ward PF councilor, Chester and himself (DC) have donated a 25kg bag of mealie meal for the affected farmers to eat before they leave for their respective villages.

He further said his office was finding it difficult to meet their demand for transport to take them back to their various homes because his office could not manage to do that.

And Felix Kalunga, a farmer of Chalilo in chief Chitambo’s area in Serenje who was among the farmers demanding payments, told ZANIS in a telephone interview that all farmers wanted was their money and nothing else.

Mr. Kalunga said farmers felt government was cheating them and just wanted to cool them down by asking them to extend their patience when government allegedly doing nothing to sort out their payment issues.

Mr. Kalunga sold 148 by 50kg bags of maize to FRA last year in August, explained that he had waited for too long and with nothing fruitful coming from government.

ZANIS

Labels: CORRUPTION, FARMERS, FRA, MAIZE

posted by MrK @ 9:56 AM