Reshuffles in agriculture ministry worry Scott
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Sat 09 Jan. 2010, 04:01 CAT
PATRIOTIC Front vice-president Dr Guy Scott has expressed concern over the constant reshuffles in the Ministry of Agriculture. In an interview yesterday, Dr Scott said it was not possible for a minister to achieve anything in one season.
He said it was clear that the country was going back to the days of former president Frederick Chiluba where he never kept a minister at the Ministry of Agriculture for more than one season.
Dr Scott, a former minister of agriculture, in the Chiluba administration, said it was not possible to put in place an agriculture policy if the government changes a minister every season because people need time to put in place a system that works.
"I was happy with (late president Levy) Mwanawasa's approach where he kept Mundia Sikatana. And now under (President) Rupiah Banda we have had three ministers in 14 months. Even if you split the ministry, the ministry under the crop side has had three ministers now we have (Peter) Daka. The point is not to have the ability but to have stability because you can't just bring up policies every year," he said.
He said he could not see what was working in President Banda's mind and it was like the wako ni wako system was working.
"Why change Dr Chituwo when he was doing a great job? If he was given more time, he could have come up with good change. You can't deprive a person of time and put in someone else. This is not the way to run the agriculture sector. You can't change the agriculture policy in one month or two months," he said.
Dr Scott said the solution to the problems with the fertiliser support programme and the food inputs support programme did not lie in changing the minister but getting specialisation in the ministry and genuine priorities.
He said the problems in the agriculture sector needed to be addressed with consistent policies.
"Even if Daka is not a cadre and just a minister, you can't achieve anything in one year because at this rate, he will be replaced in one year. We are going back to the Chiluba style of mismanagement of policy where civil servants just laugh at politicians," he said.
Dr Scott was the agriculture minister from 1991 to 1993. President Banda appointed Daka this week after he moved Dr Chituwo to the Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr Chituwo replaced former science and technology minister Gabriel Namulambe who was recently fired.
Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, FSP, GUY SCOTT, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, PF
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Chinyanta warns against corruption in fertiliser distribution programme
By Willie Sitali in Kasama
Sat 21 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT
NORTHERN Province minister John Chinyanta has directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in the province to make sure that only the intended beneficiaries' access government subsidised agricultural inputs.
In an interview on Thursday, Chinyanta warned agriculture staff that
he would not tolerate reports of corruption in the on-going distribution of fertiliser and seed to vulnerable but viable farmers in the area.
He said government had revised modalities for the distribution of the subsidised inputs under the farmer input support programme in order to curtail abuse of the facility by unscrupulous individuals.
"In the past, the distribution of farming inputs was marred with a lot of malpractices where some people diverted fertiliser meant for vulnerable farmers to their own fields. But things have changed. I am closely monitoring the current input distribution and anyone who will be found wanting will be prosecuted," he said.
Chinyanta said so far, he was impressed with the on-going distribution of agricultural inputs in the 12 districts of the province.
He said the fact that President Rupiah Banda launched the distribution of agriculture inputs earlier this year in Kasama, there was need for farmers to reciprocate by growing more agricultural crops and contribute positively to the national food security.
"So far, the reports I'm getting regarding the distribution of agricultural inputs to farmers are satisfactory. I hope this trend continues so that many small-scale farmers can benefit and in turn produce more food," he said.
Chinyanta urged provincial agricultural and cooperatives coordinator Luhamba Liyembani to be on high alert and halt any form of malpractice in the distribution of farming inputs to the targeted farmers.
Chinyanta also advised agriculture officers not to hesitate to confiscate agricultural inputs found being sold on the streets by unscrupulous traders.
He observed that the government was subsidising the farming inputs at a great cost and as such, it would not allow selfish individuals to frustrate its well-intended programme.
Chinyanta has since urged farmers to be productive and grow more agricultural crops in order to sustain their household food security.
This year, the government has allocated 15, 500 metric tonnes of both basal and top fertilisers to Northern Province for the 2009/2010 farming season.
Over 77,000 small-scale farmers are expected to benefit from the subsidised inputs in the province.
Labels: CORRUPTION, FSP, JOHN CHINYANTHA, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
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Farmers besiege Kawimbe’s office demanding payments from FRA
Written by Mutuna Chanda
Thursday, September 10, 2009 3:57:13 AM
OVER 30 farmers on Monday besieged the premises of the office of Luapula Province minister Dr Boniface Kawimbe demanding payment for the maize that they sold to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in July.
The farmers, who were part of a bigger group of between 150 and 200 farmers who were addressed by Dr Kawimbe on Monday last week, said they wanted to get feedback on when they would be paid.
FRA owes about K9 billion to farmers in the province for the maize that was sold to the agency.
The farmers however complained that when they approached Dr Kawimbe, he threatened them with police detention.
One of the farmers, Japhet Kabengele who delivered 20 bags to FRA and is owed K1.3 million, complained that the government kept on telling him and his colleagues to check week after week.
Another farmer, Goodson Kaona admitted that they [farmers] made noise at the premises and that Dr Kawimbe warned that they would be detained for their actions.
He however said that Dr Kawimbe was supposed to explain to the farmers but he told them that they should listen to Radio Yangeni where he would make an announcement regarding payment to farmers who were owed by FRA.
The incident happened as MMD cadres held a procession around Mansa town on Monday to celebrate the acquittal of former president Frederick Chiluba.
Another farmer Elias Nkandu said that MMD cadres threatened to beat up the farmers.
And when contacted, Dr Kawimbe said K4.6 billion for Luapula Province would be released this week to pay the farmers, half of what they were owed.
He said that the farmers would get the money by Monday next week and that the remainder would be released before the end of the month.
He also charged that the farmers were being unreasonable.
Dr Kawimbe said when he addressed the bigger group of farmers, he asked them to form a committee of representatives for information to flow through them but that they rejected the idea and instead opted to hear it on Radio Yangeni in Mansa.
He explained that he told the farmers that he needed to get information from the Ministry of Agriculture on when they would be paid and that he could not give them the exact date on when their money would be released.
Dr Kawimbe said he was surprised to see a smaller group of farmers go to his office demanding to be addressed over payments.
He said he told the group that he would make the announcement that very day at 14:00 hours but that they became rowdy.
Dr Kawimbe said he told them that if they became unruly, police would detain them and that, that could happen to anyone including him if he decided to break the law.
He added that some of the farmers were supporters of the opposition Patriotic Front whose intention was to disrupt the march that MMD cadres held to celebrate Chiluba's acquittal.
Labels: BONIFACE KAWIMBE, FARMERS, FRA, JAPHET KABENGELE, LUAPULA PROVINCE, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
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Farmers in Kafue happy with FSP
October 21, 2008
Farmers in Kafue have commended the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives for increasing the number of farmer beneficiaries in the district under the Fertilizer Support Programme for this year’s farming season.
Gabon Nakatete Cooperative Block Chairman Jackson Kandoko told ZANIS in Kafue today that members are happy with the decision by government to increase the number of beneficiaries as that has been their cry for the past two farming season.
Beneficiaries under the FSP in the district has increased from 1880 to 3240 farmers .
Mr Kandoko said the farmers are happy that late president Dr Levy Mwanawasa had laid a foundation for the agriculture in the country which has seeing peasant farmers produce more.
He said there is need for the current president and whoever takes office after the 30th October polls to continue with the same programme..
Mr Kandoko said peasant farmers are willing to work hard and stamp out hunger in their areas if supported with affordable farm inputs.
He has called on the District Agriculture Committee to speed up the process of allocating the packs to respective farmer groups so that they can start collecting inputs as many of them are already paying for fertilizer and seed packs to the cooperative.
ZANIS/BS/MK/ENDS
Categories: Other News
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Labels: FSP, GABON NAKATETE COOPERATIVE BLOCK, JACKSON KANDOKO, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
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Dr Chongwe queries Levy's appointment of two ministers
By Brighton Phiri and Patson Chilemba
Saturday March 01, 2008 [03:00]
Lusaka lawyer Dr Rodger Chongwe has described President Mwanawasa’s appointment of two agriculture ministers as gross abuse of public authority. Commenting on President Mwanawasa's decision to appoint Sarah Sayifwanda as second agriculture minister, Dr Chongwe said the President's action was unprecedented in Zambia and the Commonwealth as it was not supported by law.
"There is no provision in the Constitution or practice in either Zambia or Commonwealth where a President appoints two cabinet ministers to run one ministry," Dr Chongwe said.
"That is unprecedented to have two full cabinet ministers to run one ministry. That is an abuse that is impeachable by law."
Dr Chongwe reminded President Mwanawasa that his exercising the presidential powers to appoint and dismiss ministers was guided by the law.
He wondered why President Mwanawasa relieved former foreign affairs minister Mundia Sikatana on grounds of ill-health and yet decided to maintain agriculture minister Ben Kapita, who was equally facing problems of ill-health.
Dr Chongwe asked President Mwanawasa to immediately rescind his decision, saying it was not supported by law.
"This kind of abuse of power is unacceptable because if we leave it, we shall have a situation where five ministers run one ministry," he said. "President Mwanawasa's decision amounts to gross abuse of public authority."
President Mwanawasa last Friday said Sayifwanda would be working along with ailing Kapita.
President Mwanawasa explained that he had decided not to retire Kapita because he was not satisfied that he was sick beyond redemption.
But chief government spokesperson Mike Mulongoti said the Constitution gave the President power to create and abolish offices.
He said if Dr Chongwe was aggrieved, he should seek appropriate fora.
"I think what he should have done was to write to the President first on the issue, then if he doesn't get any appropriate response, then he can go to the courts," Mulongoti said.
Chongwe was legal affairs ministers under the Frederick Chiluba government.
Labels: CHONGWE, MINISTERS, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
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Parallel ministers
By MM
Thursday February 28, 2008 [03:00]
I wish to respond to comments opposing the decision by President Mwanawasa to appoint two parallel ministers for agriculture. This also happened in Uganda in 1978 when Idi Amin Dada was leader. When ministers failed to produce results, he sent them on leave allowing for deputies to take over.
The deputies actually did very well during that period prompting Amin to extend the leave of his ministers with the message, ‘Now that your deputies are doing extremely well in your positions, I have decided to indefinitely extend your leave during which you will receive your full salaries.’
The results were there for everyone to see! We, therefore, have precedence to recent appointments back home.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=38269
Political violence
By Kaunda Wisdom
Thursday February 28, 2008 [03:00]
The harassment of Post journalists by some UNIP officials clearly shows the calibre of politicians in our country.
A few weeks ago, we witnessed violence in the Kanyama by-elections. Politicians should know that the interest of the people must be given priority.
It is not surprising that most MPs do not visit their constituencies after being elected.
Politics entails having the heart to serve the people and not the thuggery and trickery we are seeing in our country. Most politicians lack dignity and are not ashamed of their conduct.
Dignity is like virginity; once lost it cannot be restored. We need people of integrity to run political parties in order to have quality leadership in our country.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=38271
Levy's pronouncements
By Sunday Chanda
Thursday February 28, 2008 [03:00]
I am concerned at the recent pronouncements and actions by President Mwanawasa. Not very long ago, he told the Kanyama electorate not to vote for Sata because that would be serious embarassment to the nation.
He however got it all wrong because the people of Kanyama and indeed Zambia understand that the MMD government is determined to stop Sata from contesting the 2011 elections, whether through the unpopular NCC or indeed Mwanawasa's open statements in public.
The recent days have also proven that President Mwanawasa is very inconsistent and seems to open his mouth and puts his foot in it. He fired Sikatana on grounds of ill health and now has appointed two agriculture ministers because he does not want to offend his friend, Ben Kapita. This President is embarrassing himself and his government and what is most unfortunate is his seemingly short memory.
The University of Zambia has been given a raw deal when the NCC has been allocated over K300 billion to rubber-stamp Mwanawasa's "ideal constitution".
The stakeholders such as the church, civil society and Patriotic Front who have stayed away from the NCC would then be justified because this is at great expense to the key sectors in the nation. It is likely that the UNZA's next academic calendar will be disturbed because this government does not value education.
The students and indeed the Zambian people will not sit and watch UNZA management increase student fees when this government could have done better. 80 per cent of our people are poor and the majority of these students are counting on the government providing bursaries for them because their families cannot afford to meet the costs that go with tertiary education in this country.
It is therefore illogical and irresponsible for this government to allocate K74 billion to the University of Zambia and more than K300 billion to the talk show called NCC.
President Mwanawasa and his MMD government have continued to embarrass the people of Zambia and must not be given the vote in 2011. Let President Mwanawasa show responsibility and ensure that the UNZA crisis is handled before the next academic calandar.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=38270
Zesco power systems
By Muyoyeta Simasiku
Thursday February 28, 2008 [03:00]
It is embarrassing that we as a country can’t seem to manage any area of our lives effectively. From politics and the economy to social services such as water, housing, transport, electricity, and so on – everything appears to be in chaos.
The nationwide power outages the country is experiencing are outrageous and unacceptable. It’s high time we regarded power as a necessity.
Whatever the problems at Zesco – whether machinery or management, or both - the continued power cuts cannot be justified.
How did we fail to foresee the extra demand for power even as we privatised mines and the economy’s expansion? This is poor planning on the part of those responsible.
Nonetheless, it’s strange to learn that a company as big as Zesco doesn’t have backup systems for its power production. It is actually scary!
What would happen if we were at war with an enemy country (God forbid) and Zesco power systems were sabotaged? It appears the whole country would grind to a halt. Just how can such a strategic company fail to have backup systems which they can revert to in an event of production systems failing so as to prevent a nationwide power failure?
Furthermore, how can Zesco carry out maintenance work on all their production machines simultaneously? I think any maintenance work on production systems must be carried out at night so that power is disconnected from residential areas only.
Why should we accept to have daily power cuts in Zambia? We have a small population and we are not even a heavily industrialised nation. Not very long ago, we took pride in ourselves as a country with such a fairly stable power production system and I was told we even exported power to neighbouring nations. So what has happened over time?
Labels: CADRES, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, ZESCO
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Magande disowns Ministry of Agriculture
By Times Reporter
FINANCE and National Planning Minister, Ng’andu Magande says his ministry has given the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives more than K200 billion and that
claims that it was yet to release funds to pay fertiliser suppliers are not true.Mr Magande explained the
budgetary allocation for the ministry this year was
K150 billion which had since been released and that the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives further asked for more
K34 billion under the supplementary estimates which was also released.
Mr Magande in an interview in Lusaka yesterday said another K20 billion was given to the ministry after they asked for the funds to resolve some problems they had, bringing the total to K204 billion.
The minister was reacting to the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives which was quoted as having said the Ministry of Finance and National Planning was yet to release funds to enable it pay the two fertiliser distribution firms - Omnia and Nyiombo.
As far as the Ministry of Finance and National Planning was concerned, there was no outstanding payment for the Ministry of Agriculture and co-operatives and that reports that it had not been funded were not true.
“As far as the ministry was concerned there is no outstanding payment for the Ministry of Agriculture because to date K204 billion has been given to them. If I may ask, how much money is needed to pay the suppliers of fertiliser?” he asked.
When contacted, Agriculture and Co-operatives deputy Minister Daniel Kalenga referred queries to Permanent Secretary, Sam Mundia who refused to comment.
Early this week, Agriculture and Cooperative deputy Minister Albert Mulonga appealed to the Omnia and Nyiombo companies to lift the suspension of fertiliser distribution as it was scouting for K30 billion owed to them.
Mr Mulonga said Government was committed to clearing the debt and that the firms should allow the small-scale farmers to access the commodity under the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP).
Labels: DANIEL KALENGA, FERTILIZER, FSP, MAGANDE, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, SAM MUNDIA
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Nalishiwa bemoans poor working culture at agriculture ministry
By Pride Bwalya
Friday December 14, 2007 [03:00]
Agriculture and Co-operatives director of human resources Boniface Nalishiwa has bemoaned the poor work culture by registry staff under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. Nalishiwa expressed concern over the problem of losing files. He said that important documents and files on various issues for public service officers such as emoluments, retirements, confirmations and promotions were taking long to be dealt with due to poor working attitude by some registry officers.
Nalishiwa said that some officers were not even found in offices and were not security conscious, committed and had poor work culture.
He said that record keeping in public service was part of state security that needed to be improved upon.
Nalishiwa said that registry departments in his ministry and other government departments were nerve centres of all systems ranging from security to decision-making in public service delivery.
He was speaking during the official opening of a one-week workshop on records management for Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives registry staff held at Zambia College of Agriculture (ZCA) in Monze on Wednesday.
He said that the workshop was intended to help registry staff in the ministry of agriculture to appreciate the whole concept of record management for them to improve and get acquainted with the new systems developed.
Nalishiwa said the government was aware that a good working environment played a pivotal role in motivating staff.
Labels: MANAGEMENT, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, WORK ETHIC
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E/Province gets K24bn for construction of 2 schools
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Thursday August 30, 2007 [04:00]
GOVERNMENT has released K24 billion for the construction of two high schools in Eastern Province. Provincial education officer Pilira Jere confirmed the development in an interview in Chipata yesterday. Jere said the high schools would be built in Chama and Nyimba districts.
“I wish to confirm that we have received K24 billion for the construction of high schools in Manga area in Chama South and Mombe area in Nyimba. The ministry was looking at the distances when choosing the beneficiary areas,” Jere said.
She said the ministry would soon place adverts for contractors to take up the project.
Jere said Chama District has two high schools while Nyimba has three. She said some existing schools that were in a poor state would be rehabilitated under the Poverty Reduction Programme (PRP).
And Chama district commissioner Peter Nyirenda said it was gratifying that the people of Chama South had finally agreed that the high school be constructed at Manga.
“Some people wanted the school to be at Mangwere while others wanted it to be at Manga but it’s good that they have finally agreed that it should be at Manga because it is accessible throughout the year,” Nyirenda said.
He said Mangwere had a lot of challenges especially during the rainy season.
“When you build a boarding school, it’s for all the people across the nation. So it should be accessible all the time, the school will need food and some other requisites. If the school is not accessible in the rainy season how can this be possible?” asked Nyirenda.
Labels: EASTERN PROVINCE, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, SCHOOLS
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