By Isaac Zulu
Vice President Mutale Nalumango has acknowledged that the price of mealie meal is unaffordable.
Nalumango says that majority Zambians cannot afford to buy mealie meal because of the prevailing prices on the market, but was quick to say that government will not allow a situation where people die due to lack of food.
She said that the UPND administration will “not sit idle,” but put in place mechanisms that would ensure that the price of mealie meal is stabilised.
“We acknowledge that the price of mealie meal is unaffordable for most Zambians. We are working hard and putting in place interventions that will ensure that the price of mealie meal is stabilised,” Nalumango said. “And I am aware that the private millers are being engaged by ministry of agriculture.”
Nalumango also argued against assertions that the UPND government has given incentives to the Zambia National Service for ZNS to be producing mealie meal “at a cheaper price.”
“There are no special incentives that have been given to ZNS. Maybe they feel duty bound because they are part of government,” she said.
Nalumango urged the Ministry of Agriculture to revive the solar milling plants that were initiated by the Patriotic Front.
“It is unfortunate that those solar milling plants are not serving the intended purpose. Can you ensure that they become functional,” Nalumango said.
She also said that not all farmers can be enrolled on the Farmer Input Support Programme, saying that is the more reason why the UPND administration found it prudent to introduce the credit window to carter for other farmers.
She advised small scale farmers that are not beneficiaries of the Farmer Input Support Programme to take advantage of the credit window so that they can use the facility so that, they too, can access farming inputs.
“This is not a don’t kubeba government, like was the case in the previous regime. We believe in transparency. Therefore, I am encouraging the Honourable members of parliament to go to their respective constituencies and explain to the people about the credit window,” said Nalumango.
Nalumango was speaking during the Vice President’s question time in Parliament.
