Sata accuses Daka of hiding vehicles in Malawi
By Roy Habaalu and Christopher Miti in Ukwimi, Petauke
Tue 14 Feb. 2012, 13:01 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata says MMD Msanzala parliamentary candidate Peter Daka has hidden vehicles in Malawi. And President Sata said he is reorganising Zambia so that the next leader in 2016 will have no problems developing the country.
Addressing a rally to drum up support for PF candidate Colonel Joseph Lungu who resigned as an independent member of parliament in Msanzala, President Sata said Daka should apologise to the people of Petauke for neglecting them.
"Let Peter Daka tell us about the vehicles he has hidden in Malawi. If he tells us about the vehicles, bicycles he has hidden in Malawi and the money he's carrying in the bonnet, let him come to the Nsengas, kneel down and ask for forgiveness," he said.
President Sata who spoke in Nsenga said he was making changes in order to transform the country. He said the MMD had destroyed the country because its leaders were crooked.
President Sata said he left the MMD and formed PF so that he could suffer with the people.
"Ask Nevers Mumba why I recalled him from Canada. He's hurt, it's because he was pocketing money meant for the country. I don't want thieves, that's why I recalled him. He's lying that we won't buy your maize, it's because ana nyonsolapo (he stole)," he said.
"ìInstead of buying fertiliser, Nevers stole the money. They said I would bring war but I have walked here, there is no war. I have not killed any old person but him wants to be stealing money. In church, he has failed, politics he has failed. He used to lie that Zambia shall be saved but we have not seen that in Zambia."
President Sata said the country should be ashamed that 47 years of independence, people were covering long distances to fetch water and were living without electricity.
He directed Zesco to electrify all health posts, clinics and schools.
"Where is the Permanent Secretary (Hlobota Nkunika)? Tell Zesco, I don't want a nurse's house or a rural health centre without electricity. And you bwana (Col Joseph Lungu) if you want to work with me wake up! Does it please you to see these people living like ana amasiye (orphans)? I want to warn you, me I sleep for four hours, so don't say I didn't tell you," he said.
Earlier, President Sata said he wants to make things easier for the next leader in 2016.
"I stayed 10 years in the opposition because I wanted to change this country. In 2016 when you have another leader, I want things changed," he said.
Meanwhile, President Sata has with immediate effect created Sinda as a new district and converted Ukwimi Trades School into a teacher training college which would produce 60 teachers for a start.
President Sata also directed local government minister Prof Nkandu Luo to review licence fees at Petauke market.
"Minister of Local Government, licence fees are too much and those people survive on markets and if fees are high how are they going to survive?" he said.
President Sata also paid a courtesy call on chief Nyamphande before addressing another rally at Nyamphande Basic School.
Labels: EASTERN PROVINCE, MICHAEL SATA, MMD, PETER DAKA
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DEC freezes Daka's bank accounts
By Namatama Mundia
Thu 02 Feb. 2012, 14:01 CAT
THE Drug Enforcement Commission has frozen Peter Daka's accounts. And Daka has sought judicial review challenging the decision by the DEC to seize his kwacha and dollar bank accounts held by Barclays Bank Zambia Limited, Finance Bank and Investrust Bank.
However, Daka's lawyers from SBN Legal Practitioners have applied for discontinuance of the matter which is before Lusaka High Court judge Annesie Banda-Bobo. Daka, the former science and technology minister in the MMD government of 1805m Ibex Hill, has sued Attorney General Mumba Malila as a party to the proceedings against the State.
According to an application for leave to apply for judicial review pursuant to order 53 of the Supreme Court Practice Rules 1999 UK (White Book) filed on January 11, 2012, Daka contended that the seizure of his accounts on December 30, 2011 was illegal, null and void.
He also sought an order that the notices of seizure be vacated further and alternatively.
Daka wants a court order that the decision by DEC should be quashed.
He said the grounds upon which the said relief was being sought was that the seizure of his accounts was a manifestly clear abuse of power in bad faith and unreasonable.
"The decision of the Drug Enforcement Commission is intended to circumvent the law on due process and presumption of innocence," he said.
However, his lawyers on January 26, 2012 filed a notice of discountenance of the action.
"Take notice that the applicant Daka wholly discontinues this action against the respondent herein," read the notice.
The accounts seized by DEC are account number 1286257 with K1,915,657.01, account number 1101178 with US$780.02, account number 1291382 with K254,741, 485.84, all held at Elunda premier business centre at Barclays Bank.
According to the application for judicial review, the other accounts are number 0095800903019 with K1,661,715.81 at Finance Bank Zambia Limited, account number 0098009030003 overdrawn by US$13.15 at Finance Bank, account number 110110077107013 with K16,500,000 at Investrust Bank Mulungushi branch and account number 11011007710024 with US$34.00 also at Investrust Bank.
And sources have disclosed that security officers want to interview Daka in connection with a US$ 2 million believed to be his.
The sources said investigators had trailed US$ 2 million (K10 billion) believed to be for Daka, hence the decision to ask him to explain.
When contacted over the US$ 2 million, Daka said he had no comment to make and had taken the matter to court.
A number of ministers who served under Rupiah Banda's regime are being investigated for corrupt activities with police having recorded warn and caution statements from some of them.
Labels: DEC, PETER DAKA
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Dora, Daka may end up in jail - Mangani
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Tue 09 Aug. 2011, 14:03 CAT
DORA Siliya and Peter Daka may end up in jail if there is a change of government, says Lameck Magani.
Reacting to Siliya and Daka’s attacks on him and PF leader Michael Sata during the MMD youth rally at Nadalitsika Basic School on Saturday, Mangani, a former deputy minister of works and supply who also earlier served as home affairs deputy minister, said he was ready to spill the beans on the two should they force him to.
“Dora Siliya and Peter Daka know that if there is a change of government they may end up in jail. They are aware of that, so they are hiding something. Dora was all over in Northern, Southern, why is she so desperate alone? Is she the only member of the national executive committee? MMD as a party has a number of NEC members, why is she so desperate? Why is Peter Daka so desperate? So if they want me to spill the beans, let them do it? I have more, remember that I was one of the few people that were privileged to know what each one of us was doing,” Mangani said.
“So if they want me to spill the beans. I can spill the beans but that desperation will not solve the problem. The people of Zambia have decided and at the right time those that have messed up have to answer some of the charges that people will demand from them. I have tried hard not to comment anyhow on matters relating to my leaving the MMD but since Peter Daka and Dora Siliya decided to follow me here in Chipata to talk about things which suggest that I may have done something wrong, I am compelled to comment on these matters.”
Mangani who recently resigned from both the MMD and government as a deputy minister has since been adopted by the PF as its candidate for Chipata Central.
He said Siliya and Daka had personalised the presidency and that President Banda would lose this year’s elections because people were not happy with the way the two had conducted themselves.
He said part of the reason why he left the MMD was that Daka and Siliya had personalised MMD.
“I don’t think I was the only one who was not happy with the way the two were handling party matters. With whatever connections they may have with the presidency, I don’t think it is right for them to personalise the presidency. The presidency is for the people of Zambia,” Magani said.
“There is nobody in the former Cabinet that is so desperate like the two. So that desperation tells a story. Why are they so desperate? Why are they so worried about the possible change of government? This simply shows that they have very dirty hands and if they want me to elaborate what I mean I will elaborate at an appropriate time.”
Mangani said the people of Eastern Province had a right to make a decision freely, not based on tribalism. He said Easterners could not be pushed to make a decision based on artificial connections like tribalism.
On Daka’s demand that Mangani should tell the people where he comes from, he said he had not hidden where he hails from.
“They know that my father is Mr. Mangani, my mother is Mrs Asneli Mangani. They (Daka and Siliya) know the village very well. I don’t have to trace my roots and if they want a team they can bring a team of camera men, they can go to the village. They will find everybody, they will find the whole lineage,” Mangani said.
Mangani said when a party was losing power, the problem of desperation usually culminated into violence.
“It happened in 1991. UNIP tried to harass a lot of people. It never worked. This time around during the third term a lot of people were harassed. Chiefs were paraded. Pastors where brought before the cameras but it never worked. When people decide they have decided,” Mangani said.
“What is happening now may not be of President Banda’s making. People think that the political party has been in power for 20 years, it’s too much. They would like to make alternatives. Whether alternatives may not be good in the eyes of Peter Daka and Dora Siliya but people of Zambia want to make a change.”
Mangani said if Daka and Siliya went to Chipata thinking that they were more powerful than him, people were yet to see what would happen in Msanzala and Petauke Central constituencies.
“Peter Daka should not underrate the situation in Msanzala and Dora Siliya, I know what is happening in her constituency. The issues at hand are about change and Dora Siliya and Peter Daka are too small to prevent the wishes of the people of Zambia who include the people of Chipata Central,” Mangani said.
At a public rally on Saturday, Siliya said the MMD would ensure that it made Mangani cry this year.
Siliya and Daka centred their campaign on attacking Mangani, Sata and defending President Banda’s parentage issue.
Labels: DORA SILIYA, LAMECK MANGANI, PETER DAKA
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Daka implores journalists to evaluate effectiveness of govt programmes
By Lenganji Sikapizye
Sun 31 Oct. 2010, 04:01 CAT
PETER Daka has implored journalists to use their skills to evaluate the effectiveness of government programmmes and hold it accountable. During the second Zambia Institute of Mass Communication (ZAMCOM) graduation ceremony in Lusaka on Friday, Daka who is science and technology minister said the mass media was an important part of development as it enhanced citizen participation in democracy.
“As government that is committed to transparency and accountability, we implore new journalists to use their skills and media platform to evaluate the effectiveness of government programmes and hold us accountable. This however should be done in an objective and fair manner,” he said.
He said the role of the media was to make citizens aware of the numerous projects and programmes the government embarked on to improve the quality of life.
“But if you create despondence with the story that brings shivers, know that your training has been fruitless,” he claimed.
And Daka said the ministry through the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVETA) was committed to improving the quality of training to ensure that colleges had acceptable training standards.
“The government is encouraging more players to get involved in training and also promote open distance and flexible learning,” he said.
And ZAMCOM board chairperson judge Flavia Chishimba revealed that the trust would before the end of this year invest US$ 30,000 in acquiring VSAT to facilitate e-learning programmes.
Labels: FLAVIA CHISHIMBA, PETER DAKA, TEVETA, ZAMCOM
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Banda urges Zambians to pray for his trips
By Chibaula Silwamba and Patson Chilemba
Thu 30 Sep. 2010, 04:00 CAT
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday asked for prayers as he travels abroad. But Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata said President Banda’s trips are fruitless. And President Banda said the replacement of Peter Daka by Dr Eustarckio Kazonga as Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives is meant to make maize procurement and transportation more efficient.
Before his departure for Nigeria to attend that country’s 50th independence anniversary celebrations scheduled for today, President Banda, who is constantly criticised over his frequent international trips, asked for prayer.
“Pray for us, we are going very far. We will pray for you also to remain well,” President Banda told journalists before departure. “I have been invited by the President there in Nigeria; they are having their 50th anniversary of their independence. As you know Nigeria is a very close country to us, so we decided that we should go there.”
Asked about concerns that he had transferred Daka from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to Science, Technology and Vocational Training in the same portfolio because of irregularities in the purchase of fertiliser, President Banda said he just wanted to realign the ministers.
“No! No! There were no such a thing; it was something that I just feel that I realign my colleagues so that I could give them more appropriate positions,” President Banda said. “As you know the issues of maize payments and maize movements are very important now. My feeling is that this rearrangement will make it more efficient.”
On doctors’ countrywide strike, President Banda expressed optimism that the problem would be resolved.
“As a matter of fact, I have just got a report from the Secretary to the Cabinet, they doctors will be meeting the Secretary to the Cabinet; they were meeting yesterday Tuesday with the minister of health,” said President Banda. “I am sure that matters will be resolved. We will sit down and find a solution and it is better not to comment before they meet otherwise that will prejudice the meeting.”
And President Banda said the government would soon make a decision on the way forward in the constitution-making process after the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) last month presented the draft constitution to the government.
But Sata, in an interview, said President Banda was stiff-necked because he had failed to listen to the public’s concerns over his frequent fruitless trips which had only succeeded in draining public coffers. He said President Banda had failed to explain to the nation how much investment had come into the country on account of his many travels.
Sata said President Banda was now soliciting for trips in order to raise money for his 2011 campaigns.
“What is happening is Rupiah doesn’t make any fruitful trip. He only makes a trip if there is something personal for him. At the moment he is moving left, right and centre to meet the people so that he can get money for campaigns next year,” Sata said.
“He was required to go to United Nations General Assembly, he did not go because there is no money there. So he had to go to South Africa and Mozambique. So from there he has now gone to meet Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan. His former accountant at NAMBOARD arranged for him to go there. He solicited it through his accountant.”
The President has in the last week been to South Africa and Mozambique.
On the removal of Chriticles Mwansa as Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) commissioner general to now serve as science and technology permanent secretary, Sata said Zambians should not forget that ZRA workers recently revealed that they had been ordered to raise K60 billion for the MMD campaigns in 2011. He said Mwansa had been removed probably because he was not user friendly, since he was appointed by late president Levy Mwanawasa.
“He knows Zambia Revenue Authority; that is where there is more money. I am sure he is looking for his relative. The workers have been given a target to raise K60 billion. Remember they announced that the budget for this year will be K17 trillion. Probably he finds Chriticles Mwansa is not friendly enough,” Sata said.
On the forthcoming Mpulungu by-elections, Sata challenged health minister Kapembwa Simbao to deny assertions that the government had sent Ministry of Health vehicles and bicycles to the area.
He said the MMD government had retained the usual desperation of implementing last minute developmental projects in areas that were to hold by-elections.
And PF Mpulungu district chairperson Charles Mazimba said Mpulungu had in the recent weeks received new government vehicles which were being used for campaigns under the pretext of conducting outreach programmes.
Labels: PETER DAKA, RUPIAH BANDA
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COMMENT - This is OUTRAGEOUS!!! They receive $100 million in taxes from the mines, and they borrow $140 million from the ADB??? I guess they put it on the public tab than no one will notice? Just let the people pay through a devalued Kwacha. No government that does not tax the mines to the fullest extent must resign in shame.
Daka explains $140 million ADB loan to pay farmers
By Kombe Chimpinde
Thu 16 Sep. 2010, 14:30 CAT
GOVERNMENT has said it was forced to borrow US $140 million from African Development Bank (ADB) towards payment for maize bought from farmers because local commercial banks could not immediately mobilize the funds.
Agriculture minister Peter Daka told Post Online in an interview following President Rupiah Banda’s revelation that government had borrowed to finance payment to farmers that farmers needed to be paid while commercial banks did not have sufficient funds to meet the payments.
“We are talking about a bumper harvest of 1.7 metric tonnes so I mean it’s only logical that we borrowed this money because it is not there in government coffers, it’s not budgeted for. You know K100 billion can only procure 40,000 metric tonnes. So really this bumper harvest is unprecedented,” Daka said.
But former finance Minister Ng'andu Magande has described the move by government as absurd and blamed the chaos in the maize marketing sector on lack of planning.
Magande, who is also an economist, told the Post Online that government has failed to properly handle the marketing of maize due to poor planning.
“Here is a bumper crop, what have you written today in The Post? Mazabuka, storage problems, Chipata, payment problems, Chief Chitimukulu, the whole market in problem. But for how long did we know that we were going to have a bumper harvest?” Magande asked.
“When I was an economist in agriculture, we used to do crop forecasts. By 30th of March, we knew what crop was on the market, and then we went to Kabwe Industrial Fabric (Kifco) to order empty grain bags. This is now the time, and people are still crying that they don’t have empty grain bags,” he said.
He said had there been adequate planning put in place by those in government, they would have simply walked into Barclays Bank branches in Kasama and borrowed money to pay farmers in Chitimukulu’s village.
“But instead, somebody has gone overseas to go and borrow foreign currency to come and pay the people in Chitimukulu’s village, how will you pay back that money. So it’s a big problem.”
Magande said it was shocking that government was going to borrow money from an external source instead of utilizing the commercial banks and the central bank.
“I am shocked! Government is now going to borrow almost K1trillion to go and buy maize in mukulaika to go and get maize from villagers. Where are the banks in Zambia ?” Why can’t they ask Bank of Zambia to let them use part of the reserves which they are saying have reached US $2 billion dollars,” he wondered.
“... part of that money came from International Monetary Fund IMF but someone is holding the money on Cairo road at Bank of Zambia saying our reserves are the highest and yet(president Banda) he is forced to borrow US $200 million dollars and I would like to know where they are borrowing this money.”
He observed that it was retrogressive for the country to say that the harvest was unprecedented when the government had a crop forecast survey department under Central Statistical Office.
But agriculture minister Peter Daka said that as far as he was concerned government needed to borrow money from outside the country for them to clear the unprecedented harvest of the country’s staple grain.
“You don't bake your own cake and eat it yourself. There are other people that should participate in the cycle so. There are so many Zambians that can export this maize to areas like Congo DR. Government has given a free will to everybody to get a an export license to export the produce. So the challenge is for everybody,” Daka said.
He said planning was not only on the part of government but also needed the participation of the private sector.
“Government works with the private sector, there are millers, there are traders associations, Zambia National Farmers Union. So really it’s not government to give the impetus, government has given a production formula which is the FISP(Farmer Input Support Programme) but you can’t ask government alone to buy all the maize that has been produced. The private sector must participate but not as low as K25,000 per 50 kg bag when the floor price is K65,000,” Daka said.
“We have borrowed 140 million dollars do you think our banks can give us that money. What government planned was K100 billion which could have procured 40,000 metric tonnes. But this production is unprecedented it has never happened before. You know its governments effort that is making sure that the production is increased from the levels that it has been by increasing number of people accessing fertilizer. If you look at the number of people that have accessed fertilizer from 250 to 550 to almost a million now.”
Last this weekend President Banda announced that government had borrowed US $140 million from abroad to enable government pay off the farmers who had supplied maize to FRA.
He made the announcement when he graced the Ukusefya pang'wena ceremony where the Bemba chief, Chitimukulu expressed concerns on the maize marketing problems affecting his subjects in Northern Province.
Labels: CORRUPTION, DOMESTIC DEBT, PETER DAKA
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Solving problems in agriculture requires mature leadership - ZNFU
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe in Kafue
Mon 06 Sep. 2010, 04:00 CAT
ZAMBIA National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has observed that solving the current problems in the country’s agriculture sector requires “mature and sober leadership.” And ZNFU has advocated that Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) be transferred to Ministry of Commerce as part of rescuing the beleaguered fertiliser manufacturing plant.
The agriculture sector currently faces a number of challenges, epitomised by bottlenecks in the present maize marketing season, which has led to most farmers being left to the mercy of ‘briefcase buyers’ owing to limited funding by the government to Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
Key institutions like FRA and NCZ have continued to operate without management boards for close to two years despite key stakeholders having submitted proposed names of board members to agriculture minister Peter Daka.
Addressing workers and management of NCZ after touring the plant in Kafue on Thursday, ZNFU president Jervis Zimba said the local farmers had lost confidence in the current leadership at the Ministry of Agriculture.
Zimba said the local agriculture sector was currently in problems.
He complained that most small-scale farmers were getting a raw deal from the current maize marketing, thus leaving them vulnerable to briefcase buyers who were buying a 50 kilogramme (kg) bag of maize at less than K30,000 compared to FRA’s K65,000.
“There is a problem at Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. President Rupiah Banda has provided leadership but at Ministry of Agriculture, their priority is somewhere else,” Zimba said.
“The fact that there are no boards at NCZ and FRA speaks volumes of the problems at Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. Agriculture requires mature people in leadership with sober minds because here we are always dealing with human lives… they have to be careful.
They send wrong signals because today they say this, today they say this, tomorrow they say that… agriculture sector requires sober and mature leadership.”
And ZNFU said the problems facing NCZ were compounded by the wrong ministry under which it had been placed.
Zimba said Ministry of Agriculture lacked corporate ethics to manage a company profitably and in a sustainable way.
“Our debate is whether NCZ is under the right ministry. Let’s face things head-on,” said Zimba.
“We want this to be analysed. The reason is that we want this matter to be analysed and find ways of bringing on board private partnership to find a way of making you NCZ operate profitably and sustainably in the future. And in this case, we call on ZDA Zambia Development Agency to rise to the occasion and provide leadership on this matter.”
Earlier, NCZ managing director Richard Soko said the state-owned fertiliser manufacturing company had already completed manufacturing the 20,000 metric tonnes basal dressing fertilisers it was allocated under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
Soko said allowing NCZ to deliver basal dressing fertilisers for one season could enable it to solve all the problems the beleaguered company was currently facing.
“If all that 89,000 metric tonnes of basal dressing fertilisers was awarded to NCZ, and there is no reason why not because we have the capacity to produce, would generate revenues in excess of K300 billion for NCZ,” said Soko.
“With that kind of that revenue, we will be able to sustain ourselves and not run back to the government…progressively rehabilitate the plant and ask for additional funds from anywhere. The only decision we are asking is that they award the whole contract of D compound to NCZ.”
Labels: AGRICULTURE, JERVIS ZIMBA, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND COOPERATIVES, PETER DAKA, ZNFU
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Govt admits poor planning on maize marketing
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Mon 02 Aug. 2010, 04:00 CAT
THERE are problems in the current maize marketing season, agriculture minister Peter Daka has admitted.
The current maize marketing season has be marred by discontent by most key stakeholders following little activity from Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and government’s lack of a clear position on disposing of the estimated 1.3 million metric tonnes of maize earmarked for export.
Whereas FRA has started entering the market with some skimpy purchases following the correction of moisture content in most stocks, the greatest activity is coming from ‘briefcase’ grain buyers who are buying the crop as low as K25, 000 per 50 kilogrammes, way below the FRA recommended price of K65, 000.
Speaking during the Cavmont Bank Limited-sponsored Judges Luncheon at the Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show, Daka said the government did not plan well and was ill-prepared to deal with the 2.7 million metric tonnes produced from the last farming season.
“The onus is on the government, and private sector to find the market for the crop,” Daka said. “It is cheaper for the country to produce and have surplus rather than to import the food that we require.”
Daka said the current problems in the maize marketing exercise were a result of poor planning.
He said the current malaise in the maize marketing resulted in exploitation of peasant farmers, who contributed 80 per cent of the country’s annual output.
“We have a marketing problem and we are solving it,” Daka said.
“We are saying to the farmers in rural areas that FRA will go out and buy all the maize in 68 districts in the country. We underestimated the harvest and we only budgeted for K100 billion but we have managed to secure almost K800 billion. But that is not enough and that is why we need the private sector to get involved in the marketing of this maize.”
FRA has secured a K700 billion loan from commercial banks to buy 300,000 tonnes of maize from local farmers to help prop up prices after a good harvest. Daka also announced that the government was in discussion with World Food Programme (WFP) for maize exports to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Darfur in Sudan.
Labels: FRA, MAIZE, PETER DAKA
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Government gives green light to export of maize surplus of 1.1 million tonnes
Wednesday, June 9, 2010, 18:45
The Zambia Government has allowed farmers and traders to export the maize surplus of 1.1 million tonnes mainly in southern African after a good harvest, but farmers have urged more exports.
Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNUF) president Jervis Zimba told Reuters today that farmers also wanted the government to provide tax waivers on maize exports and other incentives to make exports cheaper.
He said they are looking at exporting somewhere around 1.3 million tonnes in order not to have serious carry-overs for the next crop. Zimba said proposals to subsidise exports would also allow excess maize to be removed from the local market and guarantee higher prices in the 2010/11 season, after the government kept this year’s prices flat at K65,000 per 50kg bag.
Zimba said maize output would drop if the government did not facilitate the export of the surplus through an export subsidy. South Africa said in April that it had secured foreign markets to sell its surplus maize of about 4 million tonnes in the 2009/10 season to safeguard maize prices for local farmers.
Zimba said proposals to subsidise exports would also allow excess maize to be removed from the local market and guarantee higher prices in the 2010/11 season, after the government kept this year’s prices flat at K65,000 per 50kg bag.Zambia produced 2.7 million tonnes of white maize in 2009/2010, beating last season’s harvest of 1.9 million tonnes, to leave a surplus of 1.1 million, according to a government crop survey.
Zimba said Zambia’s food balance sheet showed that total maize required for human consumption was 1.3 million tonnes, 230,000 tonnes for industrial use and 200,000 for strategic reserves.
Zambia, Africa’s top copper producer, also relies on copper exports for about 63 percent of foreign exchange earnings.
It has in the previous seasons exported maize to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and Angola.
Exporters said they will target exports to Zimbabwe, after it declared 11 percent of its maize a write-off due to a dry spell, and also to other neighboring countries.
Meanwile, Kenya and Sudan have expressed interest in importing maize from Zambia.
Agriculture Minister Peter Daka says ZAMBIA has the capacity to export Maize and other crops to neighbouring countries and the sub region.
Zambia this year has over three million tonnes of maize following a bumper harvest recorded this year and carry over stock from last year.
Mr Daka said this during a consultative workshop on the development of the Zambia National Rice Strategy in Lusaka on today.
The minister said Zambia could treble its rice production if it develops a strategic plan for the sector.
Zambia currently produces 42 thousand metric tones of rice annually.
Reuters/ZNBC
Labels: CORRUPTION, EXPORTS, JERVIS ZIMBA, MAIZE, PETER DAKA
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‘Extractive industry anchoring Zambia’s economy’
By Kabanda Chulu in Kitwe
Sat 29 May 2010, 04:01 CAT
MINES minister Maxwell Mwale has said the government and all players in the mining industry have a challenge to ensure that the sector’s growth is translated into tangible benefits for all stakeholders.
And Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Peter Daka has said the government has placed the agricultural sector at the centre stage of the country’s economic development agenda since it is seen as the engine for overall economic growth and poverty reduction.
Speaking after a tour of exhibition stands at the 53rd Copperbelt Mining, Agricultural and Commercial Show (CMACS) on Thursday, Mwale said the extractive industry had continued to be the anchor of Zambia’s economy and a strong stimulant of the economic development.
He said Zambia had subscribed to the International Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) aimed at enhancing transparency and good governance in the sector.
“These developments are indicative of the projected growth of the mining sector and underscore the importance of the mining sector to the economic development of the country but the challenge for all players in this industry is to ensure that the sector’s growth is translated into tangible benefits for all stakeholders,” said Mwale.
“Government on its part is committed to maintaining a favourable investment climate by ensuring a stable regulatory framework based on international best practices and this is why we have put in place a public-private-partnership framework for private companies to work with government in developing the much needed infrastructure that will help reduce the operating costs of doing business in the sector.”
And Daka said a well-performing agricultural sector would contribute to employment creation and income generation for the majority of the people.
“Majority Zambians live in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, so developing the sector is seen by government as one way of fostering economic growth and it is for this reason that we are encouraging people on the Copperbelt to engage in agriculture,” said Daka.
“I am therefore glad to see that overall maize production on the Copperbelt was 150,248 metric tonnes and 177,629 metric tonnes in the 2007/8 and 2008/9 seasons.”
Labels: AGRICULTURE, MAXWELL MWALE, MINING, PETER DAKA
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Govt revokes decision to increase land rates
By Lovely Kayombo in Chisamba
Mon 12 Apr. 2010, 04:00 CAT
LANDS minister Gladys Lundwe has said that the government has revoked its earlier decision to increase land rates on commercial farms by 1000 per cent.
Addressing District Farmers Association (DFA) chairpersons at Golden Valley Agricultural Research Trust in Chisamba on Thursday, Lundwe said the government had heard farmers’ cries and appeals. She said the ministry was open to give title deeds to all emerging farmers.
This was after a farmer from Mwinilunga complained that lack of title deeds was the main reason farmers in the area did not progress.
“The reason why we don’t progress is lack of title to our land. In Mwinilunga there are only two commercial farmers with titles,” he said.
And Peter Daka disclosed that the government has partnered with the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) to come up with a good floor price for agricultural produce.
Daka, who is also Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, said the government was the major stakeholder in the marketing of agricultural produce and cautioned farmers against falling prey to briefcase businessmen.
“If we don’t pay our farmers well … next time they will decide to grow something else (tobacco) and we will not have anything to eat,” he said.
Daka said the government would not run away from its responsibility of helping farmers and urged them to diversify.
“The whole essence of business is to grow, therefore the same should apply to agriculture…use of wrong seeds and wrong methods is also contributing to low yields,” said Daka.
Labels: GLADYS LUNDWE, LAND RATES, PETER DAKA, TITLE DEEDS
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World Bank to boost private agro-sector
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Fri 09 Apr. 2010, 04:00 CAT
THE World Bank has led other key financial institutions in launching a major initiative to boost private sector agriculture in southern Africa to meet a growing demand for food and support economic growth.
And agriculture minister Peter Daka has said broader access to agriculture finance will require both the private sector and governments to bring together public and private finance to high impact interventions.
The initiative, launched in Livingstone on Wednesday, will be spearheaded by International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector wing of the World Bank and supported by the European Union (EU).
The European Union hosted a regional agricultural and food security forum from April 6-9 in Livingstone and gathered industry leaders, private and public sector partners, financial institutions, farmer organisations, and civil society groups to discuss ways to support agriculture projects in the region.
And Daka said finding a formula for sustainable partnerships between public and private finance was key to stimulate private sector led agriculture growth in southern Africa.
”Broader access to agriculture finance will require both the private sector and governments to bring together public and private finance to high impact interventions,” said Daka. “Finding a formula for a sustainable partnerships between the two, is what is going to stimulate private sector led agriculture growth in the region.”
The forum, supported by Rabobank from Netherlands and Zambia National Commercial Bank and facilitated by Dalberg focuses on enabling access to finance for emergent and small-scale farmers and on finding ways to improve both the productivity and the quality of goods produced.
Labels: AGRICULTURE, PETER DAKA, RABOBANK, World Bank
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COMMENT - If the government taxed the mines for over a billion dollars a year, they would not be borrowing from commercial banks, and they would have money left to lend to entrepreneurs and consumers, without charging usurious interest rates.
Daka bemoans high bank interest rates
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Thu 08 Apr. 2010, 04:00 CAT
MINISTER of agriculture Peter Daka says the high interest rates are disadvantaging most small-scale farmers. And Daka says the time of talking about poverty reduction must be done away with but there must be action on wealth creation.
During the opening of the Southern Africa Regional and Food Security Forum at the Zambezi Sun Hotels in Livingstone yesterday Daka said that for a long time, agriculture had been perceived as a government affair.
“Please allow me to digress a little bit from President Rupiah Banda’s speech. What saddens the government is that interest rates by our banks are high. How will a small-scale farmer manage with these high interest rates? My challenge for us all is how to stimulate the small-scale farmers and private partnerships. We need to weigh the pro’s and con’s a peasant farmer needs to graduate to commercial farming, the sweat of a peasant farmer is only felt by the middle man,” he said.
“The interest rates are just too high, it is soup costing more than the meat. When a peasant farmer grows maize he only adds 25 per cent on the 50 kilogrammes of maize but when the miller buys the maize he sales it at over K200,000 who is benefiting? As politicians and government we are not pleased. I’m on this side today as a politician but tomorrow I will be on the other side in the village, things we talk about must be implemented, let us be practical. Today you must find solutions to tomorrows world,” he said.
He added that Africa and the SADC region had supported the farmers through the fertiliser support programmes but with little results.
“The SADC and Africa will not come out of this quagmire. There is so much high interest rates. We have fertiliser support in all the SADC countries but what have we achieved? Agriculture has been a sleeping giant for too long. Let us now talk of wealth creation and not poverty reduction, agriculture is a sleeping giant it needs to be awaken,” he said.
And livestock minister Bradford Machila says that the biggest challenge facing the agricultural sector was how the peasant farmer gets his produce to the market.
“If we don’t work on the feeder roads the peasant farmer will not get the produce to the market. I hope the outcome of this forum will help us address these issues,” he said.
Labels: BANKING, LENDING RATES, PETER DAKA
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Zambia has enough maize to reach next season – Daka
By Ernest Chanda
Sat 06 Mar. 2010, 03:10 CAT
PARLIAMENT yesterday heard that the nation has in stock about 402,000 metric tonnes of maize that will last up to the next marketing season.
Delivering a ministerial statement on the current food security and input distribution for 2009-2010 agriculture season, agriculture minister Peter Daka said the maize was in the hands of different players in the sector.
“In terms of food security, as at 17th February 2010, the country still had a total of about 303, 975 metric tonnes of good quality maize grain.
The maize was held by players in the sector as follows: The Food Reserve Agency, 194,933 metric tonnes; Millers who belong to the Millers Association of Zambia, 100,000 metric tonnes; and the Grain Traders Association of Zambia, 9,042 metric tonnes uncommitted stocks,” Daka explained.
“In addition to the above figures, the Zambia National Farmers Union expects its members to harvest about 100,000 metric tonnes of early maize. The total maize available is therefore about 402,975 metric tonnes. This maize is enough to see us up to the next marketing season.”
Daka said the Ministry of Agriculture and the Central Statistical Office were currently conducting training for officers to be involved in the crop forecasting exercise aimed at assessing crop production for this season.
And science and technology minister Dr Brian Chituwo told Parliament that the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR) in Lusaka had a workforce of 181 as at December 2009.
Responding to a question from Pambashe parliamentarian Dr Bernard Chisha who wanted to know what the total workforce was, the qualifications of respective officers and what research and development programmes the personnel at the institution were involved in, Dr Chituwo said although NISIR had numerous challenges, some important national research programmes were still being carried out.
“As at December 2009 the total workforce at the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research stood at 181. Of the total workforce, the number of scientific personnel holding Bachelors degrees, Master’s degrees and Doctor of Philosophy degrees is currently 34 and distributed as follows: Bachelors degrees 7, Master’s degrees 13, Doctor of Philosophy degrees 4,” Dr Chituwo said.
Dr Chituwo said the institution still conducted several research programmes in biotechnology, livestock productivity and disease control; and information services, among others.
Labels: FOOD, FRA, MAIZE, PETER DAKA
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Daka urges prudent management of public funds
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Fri 05 Mar. 2010, 04:01 CAT
THE benefits of debt relief will not be realised by the Zambian people for as long as there is no commitment to prudent management of public resources, acting finance minister Peter Daka said yesterday.
And Belgium has cancelled the 5,100,000 euros about K34 billion loan that was lent to Zambia towards the rehabilitation of Lusaka International Airport. During the signing of the debt cancellation agreement, Daka said efforts by donors to relieve indebted countries of the debt burden should not be taken for granted.
“As government, we believe that as long as there is no commitment to prudent management of public resources, the benefits of debt relief will not be realised by the masses,” Daka said.
“It is for this reason that government has in recent years put emphasis on effective public resource management to ensure that the desired benefits of economic development are realised. Government also realises that efforts to relieve countries of the debt burden should not be taken for granted.”
He said the government was implementing the public debt reform with a view to ensuring that the debt was contracted at low cost and minimum risk.
“The government has thus been embarking on the implementation of the public debt reform programme, which, among other things, includes implementation of a debt strategy that will ensure that debt is contracted at low cost and minimum risk in order to maintain sustainable levels of sovereign debt that will prevent the country from falling back into the debt trap,” Daka said.
Daka, who thanked the government of the Kingdom of Belgium for the gesture, urged other donors who had pledged to cancel Zambia’s debt to do so.
The interest free loan that was acquired in 2000 had a grace period of 10 years, implying that Zambia would have started paying back the principal amount in installments beginning in 2011 over a period of 20 years.
Labels: DEBT, PETER DAKA
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COMMENT - A question the government should be asking the banks - what would it take for you to reduce lending rates to 5%? The answer should be interesting.
Govt calls on commercial banks to further reduce lending rates
By Fridah Zinyama
Wed 03 Feb. 2010, 04:00 CAT
GOVERNMENT has called on commercial banks in the country to further reduce their lending rates in order to make finances available to the productive sectors of the economy.
And Stanbic Bank managing director Joseph Chikolwa said the agriculture sector needs tailor-made products which are going to help to improve agriculture production in the country.
During the launch of Stanbic Bank’s agricultural banking yesterday, agriculture minister Peter Daka said interest rates had continued to be high in the country, a situation that had made it difficult for productive sectors like agriculture to grow.
“Investing in agriculture is very crucial as it will help farmers growing different types of crops to increase their production,” he said. “Most importantly, it will help the country meet its food requirements and have enough remain to export to neighbouring countries.”
Daka said the agriculture sector needs all the support that it can get from the banking community in order to grow.
“We are aware of the challenges that farmers are experiencing in accessing loans and we are happy that Stanbic Bank has come up with a product that will help to meet the needs of its clients,” he said.
He added that farmers had for a long time been crying for affordable long-term financing which would allow them to improve their production, makes profits and pay back the loans.
And Chikolwa hoped that the product which the bank had introduced ‘agriculture banking’ would help to meet government’s objective of diversifying the economy from mining to agriculture.
Meanwhile Standard Bank head of agriculture Jack Taylor said the bank had decided to introduce agriculture banking because Africa still had the potential to improve and meet the projected food shortage that the world was about to experience in the near future.
“Africa has the land and good weather to grow enough food for its own requirements and international markets as well,” he said. “Supply side growth is perceived to be insufficient hence the need to meet the projected food shortage in the near future.”
Labels: LENDING RATES, PETER DAKA, STANBIC
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Daka urges increased value addition to land allocated for business purposes
By Florence Bupe
Fri 11 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT
LANDS minister Peter Daka has urged increased value addition to land allocated for business purposes. In an interview, Daka said his ministry would not hesitate to give large portions of land to investors who showed willingness to develop such land for the benefit of the national economy.
“We have given land title deeds to companies like Zambeef because they have proved they are able to add value to this land. We will not hesitate to give out more land to people that demonstrate the ability to add value in terms of job creation and increased productivity,” he said.
Daka said the ministry had introduced incentives through the decentralised branches in the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to ensure that land was prudently allocated and utilised. He also warned that officers found to be dishonest in land allocation issues would be sternly dealt with.
“We want to be sure that Zambians at large have confidence in the people entrusted to handle their land issues. We need clear and prudent systems in place,” Daka said. “The Ministry of Lands will ensure that the people are served accordingly.”
Daka said with the use of land development funds, the ministry should see a more efficient land allocation and development system.
“We have put facilities in place to encourage efficiency in land management. We have a K15 billion facility aimed at encouraging the opening up of new areas away from the main city centres, and our first step has been the construction of ring roads in some parts of the country,” he said.
Daka said the lands ministry was working with the local government ministry to uplift the outlook of cities across the country through the erection of more modern structures.
“We are looking forward to a time when we will lift off compounds and put up better but affordable structures for an improved outlook of our cities,” said Daka.
Labels: LAND, PETER DAKA
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Rupiah makes reshuffles
Written by Katwishi Bwalya
Tuesday, March 24, 2009 4:45:53 PM
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has replaced presidential affairs minister Gabriel Namulambe with lands minister Ronald Mukuma. According to a statement by State House chief analyst for press and public relations Dickson Jere yesterday, Namulambe will now serve as science and technology minister, while Peter Daka is the new lands minister.
President Banda appointed Liuwa member of parliament Lubinda Imasiku as deputy minister of science and technology while Chadiza member of parliament Allan Mbewe is the new deputy minister for energy and water development.
Imasiku and Mbewe take over from Katuba member of parliament Jonas Shakafuswa and Mpulungu member of parliament Lameck Chibombamilimo who were recently fired by President Rupiah Banda for alleged indiscipline.
President Banda also confirmed the appointment of Inspector-General of Police Francis Kabonde who had been acting since last year.
According to the statement, President Banda congratulated the ministers on their new assignments and urged them to execute their functions in an efficient and diligent manner.
And President Banda is tomorrow expected to visit the Mkushi Farming Block where he will flag off the early maize harvest at one of the farms.
President Banda is expected to visit one small-scale farm and an Agric-Option Storage Facility before addressing a meeting with farmers in the area together with the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) officials.
President Banda, who will be accompanied by agriculture minister Dr Brian Chituwo and other senior government officials, will return to Lusaka immediately after the meeting.
Labels: CABINET, GABRIEL NAMULAMBE, PETER DAKA, RONALD MUKUMA, RUPIAH BANDA
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Daka advises media to provide checks and balances on govt
By Florence Bupe
Saturday September 20, 2008 [04:00]
THE media should always endeavour to provide the necessary checks and balances on government, science minister Peter Daka has said. Officiating at the first Zambia Institute of Mass Communication Educational trust (ZAMCOM) graduation ceremony yesterday, Daka urged the media to ensure that the government was accountable to the people through ethical and factual reporting.
"The need for quality training cannot be overemphasised. Professionalism in the media fraternity is critical in the attainment of Millennium Development Goals, as well as in ensuring that there are checks and balances in the governance system," he said.
Daka advised the graduating students to practice issue-based journalism once absorbed into the media industry.
"As you go out in the field, ensure that you report objectively in order to help build the nation. Journalism is a powerful tool that can either build or destroy, and I urge you to use your skills positively by reporting on issues that affect the nation," Daka said. "This should move hand in hand with the values of love and peace. Guard against being used by people for ill-motives."
And Daka has reiterated the need for training institutions to be self-sustaining and profitable.
"Institutions should aim to be self-sustaining, because there will come a point when government will not give any grants.
We will continue supporting training institutions, but there is increased need for entrepreneurship and, ultimately, profitability," he said.
Daka further encouraged the graduates to be enterprising as a way of addressing high unemployment levels.
And ZAMCOM vice board chairperson Flavia Chishimba disclosed that the institution would soon launch an educational television station to upgrade the quality of its graduates.
She said the institution had already obtained a licence for the project, and was awaiting the purchase of a transmitter.
A total of 68 students graduated in media related studies, from 2005 to 2007.
Post Newspapers sports reporter Joseph Mwenda scooped the Muvi Television award for best student in Certificate in Journalism and Public Relations, 2005 programme.
Labels: MEDIA, PETER DAKA, ZAMCOM
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Rupiah links poor livelihood to unskilled populace
By Mutale Kapekele in Livingstone
Tuesday August 12, 2008 [04:00]
HOUSEHOLD incomes in least developed countries are depressed because most people are unskilled, Vice-President Rupiah Banda has said. Vice-President Banda, who was represented by science minister Peter Daka at the official opening of the 7th International Vocational Education and Training Association (IVETA) all Africa conference in Livingstone on Sunday night, said an unskilled population placed severe strain on public social services.
“Most household incomes in least developed countries are depressed because people are unskilled,” Vice-President Banda said. “It means that these people will not be able to pay for social services such as education and health, and will be entirely dependent on the government for provision of these services. But most developing countries are not able to offer these services to their people.”
He said in countries where the government attempted to offer social services for free, the quality was compromised with increased demand.
Vice-President Banda said skilled populations improved the livelihood of the people.
“A skilled population leads to improved household income and this is a good base for improved livelihood of our people,” he said. “Technical education and vocational training also present good opportunities for overall social development of our societies.”
He said technical and vocational training was crucial for economic development and poverty alleviation.
“It is necessary that there is real and tangible commitment to invest in the sector with capital, supported by motivated human resources,” Vice-President Banda said. “Countries with skilled manpower are more likely to attract foreign investment than those with low availability of skills.”
He said it was important that skills were imparted in the young generation as they represented the backbone of countries’ economic growth and expansion.
And Stanbic Bank head of institutional banking Fridah Luhila, said Africa’s major challenge was wealth creation for poverty reduction.
“The sub-Saharan region posted a Gross Domestic Product GDP growth rate of 6.1 per cent and Zambia’s GDP grew by six per cent... clearly the major challenge on the continent lies in matching those growth levels with skilled manpower to drive the emerging market and financing economic sectors,” said Luhila.
“The ability by all the technical authorities in the region to cater for various levels of practical skills training in order to develop enterprenuership and empower citizens to become productive members of society and create wealth for their wellbeing therefore cannot be over-emphasised.
Labels: IVETA, PETER DAKA, RUPIAH BANDA, VOCATIONAL TRAINING
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