Scott defends DCs appointments
By Roy Habaalu and Bright Mukwasa
Sat 10 Mar. 2012, 12:59 CAT
VICE-President Guy Scott has defended the appointment of district commissioners, saying those appointed are competent and hard working. During the Vice-President's question and answer session in Parliament on Friday, Dr Scott said it was distasteful for opposition members of parliament to make derogatory remarks against people appointed as district commissioners.
This was after UPND Siavonga member of parliament Kennedy Hamudulu said the PF government had gone off-track by employing inexperienced political cadres as district commissioners.
"They (PF) have brought in cadres. Unfortunately sir, some of these have very humble education and no experience at all in administration, let alone in office cleaning. Now these have been given positions in high office. Is it government's position to spend public money on officers who are busy politicking rather than administering these offices?" asked Hamudulu.
But Vice-President Scott said he was shocked to hear an educated legislator make derogatory remarks on others.
"It's cadres who have put me and its cadres who have put the honourable questioner (Hamudulu) where he is and many of them have worked extremely hard and extremely competent. We are trying our best to put people who are serious minded and understand government policies in key positions such as district commissioner," Vice-President Scott said.
On the realignment of districts, Dr Scott said the process would necessitate cheaper administration of government services and resources to the people.
He was responding to MMD Mumbwa Central member of parliament Dr Brian Chituwo who wanted to know whether the relocation of districts was synonymous to decentralisation.
"From all I have heard, and I am a listening Vice-President, I haven't heard anybody defending it on the basis that it's decentralisation. I have heard people defending it on the basis that it's administratively cheaper, convenient and communications are faster," he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Chituwo said President Michael Sata was a listening leader who respected the opposition.
"I wish to first of all congratulate His Excellency the President who has a listening ear. He listened to the opposition's demands for the creation of the Ministry of Gender. I am an MP who stands for the people and I congratulate the President and yet the Executive were defending a defective position," said Dr Chituwo.
Vice-President Guy Scott also said President Sata was justified for refusing to be dragged into tribal politics of Southern Province due to the contradiction obtaining in the area over the realignment of districts.
Vice-President Scott was responding to the Mazabuka Central member of parliament Garry Nkombo who wanted to know if President Sata's comments was not violating the fundamental rights of the people of that area over their suggestions.
Labels: DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS, GUY SCOTT, UPND
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Government shouldn't engage in panic politics - Saccord
By Moses Kuwema
Thu 23 Feb. 2012, 12:01 CAT
THE Patriotic Front government should not engage in panic politics, says Saccord. And Saccord has challenged PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba to tell the nation when jobs for district commissioners were advertised by the Public Service Commission.
Commenting on Kabimba's statement that the current district commissioners were being appointed by the Public Service Commission and not the President, Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes information officer Obby Chibuluma said as far as his organisation was concerned, the jobs were never advertised.
"We have never seen these jobs being advertised. The Public Service Commission should show us when these people applied for these jobs because they have the responsibility to ensure that Zambian people know how cadres are being employed," he said.
Chibuluma said there was no need for the PF government to engage in panic politics of using public resources to strengthen party structures through the appointment of cadres as district commissioners.
He said the PF was still enjoying public support and there was no need for them to engage in panic politics.
"Let them just work as per a party because what won them power was that they were going to be doing things differently from the MMD. They should not engage in panic politics because if they are not careful, they are likely to fall in the same trap that the MMD fell in," Chibuluma said.
He said there was no justification for the appointment of cadres into the civil service because it was clear that the party led the appointments.
Chibuluma said his organisation had no problems with the Public Service Commission appointing PF supporters who were qualified for the jobs.
"Much as this might be the time for cadres, but this is a strange way. There are so many ways of appreciating cadres," he said.
Chibuluma said at the rate things were going, the country was likely to see government contracts being given to those who were politically correct.
In several places, including Lusaka and Kawambwa, PF cadres have been appointed district commissioners.
Labels: DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS, OBBY CHIBULUMA, SACCORD, WYNTER KABIMBA
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PF has ignored pleas to abolish DC role, says Chileshe
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Mon 20 Feb. 2012, 11:59 CAT
THE PF government has ignored appeals to abolish the position of district commissioner, says a business consultant. Lawrence Chileshe, who is also former Chamber of Mines of Zambia assistant general manager, said the appeals to abolish the position of district commissioner were made in good faith for government structures to reduce and make real savings on government expenditure.
Chileshe said the abolition of the position would show the government's seriousness in reducing its structure and expenditure.
"The reduction of government's structure will be deemed as ‘cosmetic' if the position of district commissioner is not abolished. With the creation of new districts and the appointment of district commissioners, with immediate effect, means that we no longer have 72 district commissioners. This is a large number of which if abolished, huge sums of money could be saved and the funds re-allocated, to improve conditions of service of other more critical civil servants or used in hospitals, schools, increasing empowerment funds or the funds sent to the provincial offices. How will this decentralization that President Michael Sata talks about become a reality?" he asked.
He said historically, the people appointed as district commissioners in the previous governments were used as ‘district political organisers' and not as purely civil servants.
"In the MMD government, the district commissioners would be said to be the link between the party and the government. However, this should not be the case in the PF regime, as the PF government had promised a reduced government structure, resulting in reduction in government's recurrent expenditure. The Patriotic Front party must ensure that party structures are strengthened and not rely on district commissioners to organise the party at district level. The former government did not strengthen the party structures at grass root level and this contributed in the party losing in the last general elections," he said.
"Sadly, we are now seeing PF officials being appointed as district commissioners. The new DC of Choma, Mr Golden Nyambe, is Choma PF district vice-chairman. The new DC in Chikankata, Mr Sylvester Simayaba, is Mazabuka PF district chairman. And PF Mazabuka Central losing parliamentary candidate, Lucia Mwiinde, has been appointed as DC for Monze. Is this position now being used to reward hard working PF party officials or another form of job creation just for PF officials? I am a PF supporter, but these positions need to be abolished. The PF government needs to be bold as it is implementing changes in fiscal policy."
Chileshe also said the government's action in the last few months had raised concerns over a possible increase in government expenditure for 2012.
"We have seen government creating districts and appointing office bearers with immediate effect. We have seen government embarking on a debasing of the currency, an exercise which is not cheap. Yet all this is not clearly budgeted for in the 2012 national budget. We have had so many pronouncements, especially by our President, which creates additional expenditure in this fiscal year. It is as though the government has not weighed the full implications of such actions, that it will have to spend in order to achieve all these pronouncements," he said.
"It will not matter whether induction workshops of permanent secretaries are reduced or even President Sata abandoning his motorcade and just using an ordinary bus when visiting Livingstone as will would matter is sober economic thinking and fiscal discipline."
Chileshe said the country needed real and tangible savings on government expenditure.
"Ministers need to be professional, very bold and advise the President on such matters that border on the economics of this country. It is not a one-man show; they must work as a team. Has the President appointed an economic advisor at State House? Maybe that is where part of the problem might just be," said Chileshe.
Labels: DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS, LAWRENCE CHILESHE, PF
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Fr Chibuye urges Sata to abolish position of DC
By Ernest Chanda
Fri 27 Jan. 2012, 14:01 CAT
A Mpika clergyman has called on President Michael Sata to abolish the position of district commissioner since cadres are still being appointed to such positions. Mpika Catholic diocese director of Caritas Father Patrick Chibuye said it was disappointing that the Patriotic Front government had gone back to the MMD era of appointing cadres as DCs.
"From the onset of the PF government, many Zambians advocated for DCs to ascend from the civil service. This was in order to enhance good governance and lessen partisan interference in the running of the government. This was partially done by the PF government. It meant that the government would curb abuse of resources like it used to happen in the MMD government," Fr Chibuye said in an interview on Wednesday.
"Surprisingly, the trend has been reversed and we have gone back to the MMD days; cadres have started ascending to the position of DC. What should we expect if not interference of the party in the operations of the government! I think the President should scrap off this position. Some of the DCs who have recently been appointed in some districts have no qualifications at all. Mpika is no exception because we have seen a cadre being appointed DC. I wonder what criterion is being used in these appointments."
Fr Chibuye urged President Sata to reflect on the issue and address it before things got worse.
He said the PF's promise to depoliticise the position should have been fulfilled.
Fr Chibuye observed that it was too early for the PF government to go against its word on the appointment of DCs.
"If the cadre appointed is a qualified person, I've no problem. But I think we are compromising the operations of government when we appoint unqualified people. The PF government has started compromising its principles on good governance, as evidenced by the u-turn on DCs' appointments," said Fr Chibuye.
"I also sense some danger that government wants to please its cadres by giving them civil service positions. I strongly supported PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba when he said that the party should be separated from government. Let the PF learn from the MMD on how it lost popularity by intertwining the party and government to the extent of failure to distinguish between party activities and those of government."
He warned that should the PF government continue with the same attitude it risked losing the fight against corruption.
Labels: DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS, MICHAEL SATA, PATRICK CHIBUYE
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Fr Chibuye calls for scrutiny of proposed DCs
By Moses Kuwema
Fri 07 Oct. 2011, 14:50 CAT
A MPIKA clergyman says the proposed list of district commissioners should be scrutinised before the final confirmation and inductions. The clergyman said some of the people on the list have serious political inclinations and are corrupt.
Commenting on the proposed list of district commissioners which has been released, Caritas director for Mpika Fr Patrick Chibuye said some of the people who had been proposed as possible candidates for the positions had pending administrative cases for alleged resource mismanagement.
Fr Chibuye (right) said the Public Service Commission should have been sincere when submitting the names before the President and created more room for scrutiny by proposing three names per district followed by an inquiry either from the districts or from the commission to get views on both their conduct before, during and after the just ended tripartite elections.
"It is so surprising that most of the civil servants especially the heads of government departments in key departments accepted to be used by MMD to campaign in the name of fostering development.
We have received reports within the province that some civil servants whose names are on this list were using their positions to intimidate the electorate to vote against PF; offices like the DEBS, DACO, and office of the community development were equally used to mobilise teachers, farmers and women clubs in rural areas," he said.
"They were told if they vote for PF the schools will be turned into private schools and that neither farmers would get their money nor benefit from this year's Farmers Input Support Programme."
Fr Chibuye said if the current list was to be regarded perfect, the country would have the same type of district commissioners it had during the MMD's reign.
He called on President Sata and his Cabinet to further scrutinise the proposed names by involving civil society organisations, churches and the general citizenry.
Fr Chibuye said this would help the new government to know the type of civil servants it would be dealing with at all levels.
Fr Chibuye called for a forensic audit in the former district commissioners' offices, saying there was too much corruption.
Labels: CIVIL SERVANTS, CORRUPTION, DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS, PATRICK CHIBUYE
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Make DCs full-time civil servants, urges Father Chibuye
By Ernest Chanda
Tue 04 Oct. 2011, 09:00 CAT
FATHER Patrick Chibuye has appealed to the government to revise qualifications for the position of district commissioner. In an interview, Fr Chibuye who is also Mpika Catholic diocese director of Caritas said President Michael Sata should also turn district commissioners into full-time civil servants.
"I appeal therefore to the new government to seriously scrutinise qualifications of district commissioners before they are appointed because this is a senior position equivalent to the position of deputy permanent secretary.
Let the DCs or whichever title will be for this district head of administration come from within the ranks of civil service and not what we have been subjected to whereby some DCs came through the window of political party," Fr Chibuye said.
"If this is done, there will be less abuse of public resources because there will be people and an organisation to do the checks and balances unlike the previous situation where DCs had allegiance to political party authority."
Fr Chibuye said it was important to stop district commissioners from giving allegiance to the ruling party rather than the people.
"I say this because the abuse of resources which has resurfaced after elections is as a result of political influence and inclination by the district commissioners.
If they were serious civil servants and appointed from within the civil service then the much talked about abuse of office would not have arisen because accountability would have been there," said Fr Chibuye.
"Due to lack of good system, some DCs have just realised that they have blundered by siding with the ruling political party and hence some have even moved out of their districts for safety.
This says a lot about how they conducted themselves and how guilty they are and
how they deprived development to the residents of their respective districts. In some districts, there is lack of qualification and understanding of civil service administration by district commissioners which has led to mismanagement of public resources."
And Fr Chibuye said President Sata's re-sizing of the cabinet is a positive move towards achieving development and good governance.
He said the move would help save national resources which were spent on a blotted cabinet in the past regimes.
"I say so because some ministries were irrelevant and to some extent they were formed to meet the needs of the few people instead of all Zambians. It will also help in cutting down some unnecessary expenses which actually should have been channeled to some areas where there are gaps in terms of social nets," said Fr Chibuye.
Labels: DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS, PATRICK CHIBUYE
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It’s not my fault that I can’t speak English - MMD official
By Abigail Chaponda in Ndola
Fri 20 May 2011, 03:50 CAT
IT is not my fault that I cannot speak English; God made me that way, says MMD Ndola district chairman Victor Konie.
Reacting to MMD protestors who said he was a bad leader who could not even express himself in English, Konie said it was not his fault that he could not express himself in the language.
Last Friday, MMD members in Chifubu insulted each other and almost fought after supporters of the suspended constituency chairman Joseph Mukosela were prevented from attending a meeting at Mpezeni Hall chaired by Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha.
Chifubu Constituency information and publicity secretary Hagai Bwalya described Konie as a bad leader who was busy persecuting MMD members he perceived to be his enemies.
He charged that Konie had brought more harm than good to the MMD.
“Konie knows nothing, he can’t even express himself in English and these people are calling him district chairman. If this continues, we will not campaign for anyone except President Rupiah Banda. We will just fold our arms and watch the PF and other people do the campaigns,” Bwalya said.
Some of Mukosela’s supporters vowed not to campaign for the MMD because of mistreatment they were getting from Konie.
But Konie, a former Ndola District Commissioner, refused to comment but referred all queries to provincial chairman Joseph Chilambwe.
“Awe teti ndande ifingi, temulandu wandi nga teti ndande ichisungu. Lesa efyo ampangile (no, I can’t say much, it’s not my fault if I can’t speak English. This is how God made me). Ba provincial is handling everything, I cannot comment more,” he said.
But Chilambwe said leadership was not about people knowing how to speak English.
He said if one was born a leader, then English should not be a barrier to being a leader.
“Leadership is not English, it is given knowledge and when a person is born a leader, English is not supposed to prevent them from being leaders. English is just an added thing, it is not a must for one to know English if they are good leaders,” he said.
Chilambwe said MMD would not tolerate misbehaviour and warned Bwalya to behave in a proper manner.
Labels: DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS, MMD
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Siavonga DC Striedl dropped
By Lemmy Likando in Siavonga
Tue 15 June 2010, 14:30 CAT
SIAVONGA district commissioner Emily Striedl’s contract has been terminated. Former Kazungula district commissioner Fred Siasuntwe has since replaced Striedl.
Striedl was one of the longest serving district commissioners having served since 2002 and her contract was scheduled to run up to September next year.
Southern Province minister Daniel Munkombwe introduced Siasuntwe as the new district commissioner for Siavonga over the weekend during the MMD fundraising dinner dance held at Zesco Guest House.
Munkombwe said Siasuntwe, whom government had dropped as district commissioner for Kazungula not long ago, had however been recalled because of what he termed as his outstanding performance.
Munkombwe described Siasuntwe as trust worthy and a very royal person whose services stood to benefit not only the people of Siavonga but the country as a whole.
And Munkombwe at the same function declared that the formation of the PF-UPND pact was a blessing in disguise to the ruling MMD as it would be divided as soon as it chooses its presidential candidate.
On Monday Munkombwe and his entourage inspected, among others, Siavonga district hospital and Muntanga Uranium Mine which is still undergoing exploration works.
At the mine, Munkombwe issued a strong warning to management of Denison Mines against employing people from outside the district at the expense of locals saying doing so would be criminal as far as he was concerned.
He also expressed unhappiness at the fact that the mine would only resume full-scale production of uranium in 2013 saying the period was too long considering the time the mine became operational.
Labels: DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS, EMILY STRIEDL
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Govt official accuses Munkombwe of nepotism
Written by Mwala Kalaluka
Thursday, July 23, 2009 4:33:36 PM
SOUTHERN Province minister Daniel Munkombwe has been accused of displaying nepotistic tendencies through his involvement in the firing and appointment of district commissioners in the province. But Munkombwe has defended himself saying there is no single relative of his who is a district commissioner or married to one.
According to a highly placed government source, most of the district commissioners in the province are either directly or indirectly related to Munkombwe.
The source, who opted not to be identified, fearing victimisation, said Munkombwe had recommended for the termination of contracts of several district commissioners in the area with a view to replacing them with his relatives or MMD party stalwarts.
"I am talking about our provincial minister. He has removed most of the district commissioners in the province and he has only left his relatives," the source said. "The district commissioner for Livingstone [Francis Chika], the wife is the niece to Munkombwe. The district commissioner for Kalomo [Oliver Pelete], the late wife was a relative to Munkombwe."
The source said in Choma, both the district commissioner Laiven Apuleni and the recently appointed district administrative officer were all related to Munkombwe.
"The district commissioner for Mazabuka is a nephew to the provincial minister," the source charged. "There is also Gwembe where he wants to employ another relative and his name is Mr Mubambazi. He has recommended his appointment to go to Gwembe. Mr Mubambazi is currently Mbabala Constituency MMD chairman. He had contested in 2006 and lost."
The source said district commissioners for Gwembe [Dorothy Hamvula], Kazungula [Fred Siansutwe], Siavonga [Emily Striedl], Monze [Joyce Nondo] and Sinazongwe [Mungoni Simulilika] are the ones earmarked for firing at Munkombwe's behest.
"The DCs for Kazungula and Monze have already received their letters of termination of their contracts so that he [Munkombwe] fills in his relatives," the source said. "The feeling is that he is appointing relatives."
Another source said Nondo had since been replaced by Holland Munsaka, as acting as Monze district commissioner.
Nondo in an interview yesterday said she was grateful to the President for having afforded her the opportunity of serving the country for a period of seven years.
"When you are disappointed and when your contract is ended you must be happy because there is nothing that goes on forever," Nondo said. "Ì have joy in the Lord."
But Munkombwe, who demanded to know the source of this reporter's information, said he does not partake in the firing and appointment of district commissioners because the system had its own way of doing that.
"All I know is that Joyce Musokotwane, her contract expired sometime back. That is the only one I know," he said.
Munkombwe said those accusing him of nepotism in the appointment of district commissioners should prove their allegations.
"I do not have even a single one from Macha. I come from Macha," he said. "When Chika for Livingstone was appointed, they said he was my nephew. He comes from Sekute, I come from Macha and my father is Philip Chibwalu Moono from Mbole in chief Macha's area in Choma."
When reminded of assertions that he was related to Chika's wife, Munkombwe quickly pointed out the area where she comes from.
"Mrs Chika I think she comes from Pemba, Choompa area in chief Siamaundu's area," he replied.
On the pending appointment of Mubambazi as Gwembe commissioner, Munkombwe asked those accusing him of nepotism to state if Mubambazi does not qualify for the job.
"Can you ask them further whether he does not have a right? He was our candidate in the last election," he said. "If it is Mr Mubambazi, yes, he comes from Macha but he qualifies. I do not know who is going to Gwembe. Anyway, I do not know who is going where, the system has its own system of choosing people."
Munkombwe said the two brothers, Sikota Wina and his late brother Arthur Wina, were in the government at the same time and that there was nothing wrong with that because they qualified.
Labels: DANIEL MUNKOMBWE, DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS, NEPOTISM
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DC rejects pastors’ petition over closed Luanshya Mine
Written by Zumani Katasefa in Luanshya
Sunday, March 22, 2009 6:27:46 PM
LUANSHYA district commissioner George Kapu has rejected a petition by local pastors over the mode of selling the closed mine. And Kapu has also blocked the pastors from going to see President Rupiah Banda at State House over Luanshya Mine.
The pastors in a petition to President Banda through Kapu on Wednesday stated that
they were suspicious over the manner the government intended to privatise the closed Luanshya mine to a Chinese investor.
In their petition presented and signed by Luanshya Pastors Fellowship chairman Morgan Kanjolo, secretary Jossie Sakala and spokesperson Jevan Kamanga, the clergymen stated that earlier, President Banda had promised that ZCCM-IH would take over the mine on a short-term basis as the government was looking for an investor.
"Why are we rushing directly into giving NFC (Non-Ferrous Mining Company)? We know the Chinese have all the dollars in the world as at now. But that does not mean we have to rush into getting any company from China without carefully selecting the right investor," read the petition.
"Today, we got some wind that in the first week of April, a new investor will be announced and that NFC is likely to be the company to be announced. It is a welcome move and that is what we have been looking for. But we have our reservations."
The pastors said they had a lot of unanswered questions by government over the sale of the mine.
"From the six interested investors, we came down to three, then one. What happened to an investor who wanted a management buy out?" they wondered.
The pastors stated they should not be mistaken for politicians.
They also demanded to know the intended manpower capacity of the would be investor and what mine shafts the investor would take.
"Which entities are they taking? Is it 14, 18 and 28 shafts only or is it Muliashi and Baluba Mines? Is it including the smelter? Are they taking the whole lot or part of?" they asked.
The pastors stated that during a meeting with deputy labour minister Simon Kachimba he suggested to them to form small groups and put money together to buy the crusher at 28 Shaft, the Nchanga Farms, the Slags.
But Kapu rejected the pastors' petition because politicians were allegedly using them. Kapu also rejected the petition on the basis that the government had already answered many of their concerns. Kamanga expressed concern with Kapu's handling of their petition.
He said Kapu was not comfortable with the mention of NFC as the preferred bidder for the closed mine. He said Kapu demanded to know the source of their information regarding the preferred bidder.
Labels: DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS, GEORGE KAPU, LCM, PRIVATISATION
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COMMENT - Even the freemarketeers should see that the staple food should not be used for speculative purposes. Buying in bulk and waiting for the price to rise should not be done with the national staple.
Meal meal prices in Mazabuka skyrockets
February 15, 2009
The Price of Mealie Meal in Mazabuka town in Southern Province on the black market has increased to K 60,000 and K 75,000 respectively at Nakambala market.
And Mazabuka District Commissioner, Tyson Hamaamba has attributed the sky rocketing prices to
the Food Reserve Agency’s delay to release maize to Kapinga Milling Company which has since halted production.
Mr Hamaamba said failure by FRA to release maize to Kapinga and the consignment meant for sale to starving villagers has necessitated the sharp increase on the black market.
A survey conducted by ZANIS at Mazabuka’s largest Market, Nakambala has revealed that a 25 Kilogramme bag of Breakfast brand by National Milling Company has shot up from K45,000 to K 70,000 while a similar bag of Roller Mealie Meal has been hiked from K 36,000 to K 60,000.
The survey further revealed that Nakambala market has been flooded with expensive mealie meal while leading super markets have completely run out of the commodity.
Traders talked to said the increase in the price of the staple food could not be reduced because the free market economy promotes competition in business.
They also said the price of mealie meal at the market was cheaper than some named shops in the Central Business District who are now pegging the price of the commodity in some cases at K 75,000.
But Mr Hamaamba said there was little his office could do to reverse the price of mealie meal by marketers on the black market.
Mr Hamaamba said the solution to the mealie meal price reduction lies on the Food Reserve Agency in sending relief food for sell to starving people and release of maize to Kapinga Milling Company.
The DC has since warned that the food situation in the district is likely to worsen this month.
But some residents have since called on the Government to screen people buying mealie meal in bulk because they are creating artificial shortage of the commodity.
ZANIS/ENDS/HC/CLM
Labels: DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS, MAZABUKA DISTRICT, MEALIE-MEAL, TYSON HAMAAMBA
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Mambwe DC orders probe into abuse of FSP farming inputs
Written by Mathias Zulu in Mambwe
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 1:20:53 PM
MAMBWE district commissioner John Chilowa has directed the district agriculture coordinator to conduct thorough investigations on reports of abuse of FSP farming inputs this season.
Chilowa issued a directive following the disappearance of 120 bags of fertiliser and 15 by 10 kilogramme bags of seed believed to be for Luwaneni Co-operative and the impounding of 59 by 50 kilogramme bags of fertiliser which were about to be smuggled out of the district.
He confiscated the bags of fertiliser a week ago from an unregistered canter truck after a tip-off from members of the community.
In a later dated December 26, 2008, addressed to the district agriculture coordinator and copied to the Eastern Province permanent secretary and provincial agriculture Coordinator and made available to the National Agricultural Information Services, Chilowa expressed great disappointment at the manner in which the FSP programme was handled.
He stated that the mishandling of the FSP farming inputs had resulted in the district losing a good number of bags which had been smuggled to other districts for re-sale.
“You are no doubt aware of the government’s deliberate policy of alleviating hunger and poverty through programmes like the Fertiliser Support Programme,” stated Chilowa.
“I, however, wish to register my utmost disappointment at the way the programme was handled. This has definitely resulted in the district losing a good number of bags which have been smuggled to other districts for re-sale.”
Records from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in Mambwe show that the district received 3, 584 Compound D and 3, 584 Urea for the 2008/2009 farming season.
The amount received plus balances from the previous farming season brought the total number of inputs in the district to 3, 948 and 4, 069 for basal and top dressing fertiliser respectively.
The district targeted 1, 002 farmers but some farmers, despite paying for the inputs, had not received the fertiliser.
Labels: CORRUPTION, DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS, FSP, JOHN CHILOWA
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Chiinda declares support for govt
By Miriam Zimba
Saturday March 29, 2008 [03:00]
WE call ourselves endangered species, fired Mazabuka district commissioner Misheck Chiinda has said.
In an interview yesterday morning, Chiinda, who was supposed to chair the District Disaster Management meeting, disclosed that he only received the letter terminating his employment yesterday morning.
“We call ourselves endangered species (political appointees), thus for me to have been here this long, I would like to thank his Excellency the President for having accorded me this opportunity to serve as DC for the last three years. All I can say is that I will continue giving him and the New Deal government my full support,” he added.
No reasons have been advanced in the letter of termination signed by Southern Province Permanent Secretary Darius Hakayobe dated March 14, 2008. Chiinda said he would now concentrate on farming and supporting the MMD.
Labels: DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS, MAZABUKA DISTRICT, MISHECK CHIINDA
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