By Isaac Zulu
Mkushi district commissioner Jonathan Kapungwe has instructed law enforcement agencies to institute investigations into reports that some briefcase businessmen are keeping subsidized fertilizer in some privately owned storage facilities.
And Kapungwe has warned that chairpersons of cooperatives and individual farmers that
will be found selling farming inputs will be blacklisted from the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
In an interview with Daily Revelation, Kapungwe explained that he is in receipt of these reports and his office has engaged investigative wings who are already on the ground.”
“I got wind of it and we immediately instructed investigative wings to carry out their investigations. What I can say is that we have not received any substantive report from our law enforcement officers in Mkushi district,” Kapungwe explained. “And I can tell you that the district administration will not be watching any businessman buying or selling farming inputs. Anyone that will be engaging in such acts will be legally dealt with. Relevant government wings are investigating this particular issue, but we are yet to get a substantive official investigative report.”
Kapungwe also warned beneficiaries of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) that would be found selling fertiliser and seed that they will be arrested and prosecuted.
He said the tendency by some FISP beneficiaries to sell farming inputs is defeating government’s efforts to enhance agriculture productivity and, ultimately, ensure that it contributes to the country’s GDP ( Gross Domestic Product).
“Government means well by giving and increasing the bags of fertilizer from six to eight per pack during this farming season, unlike was the case in the past. This move is aimed at enhancing food security in the country and ending poverty in communities. We are, however, concerned that government subsidized fertilizer, which comes from tax payers’ money should be sold cheaply by beneficiaries and be found on the black market,” said Kapungwe. “And I wish to issue a caution that we will apply sanctions against any individual farmer or grouping that will be selling FISP farming inputs to briefcase businessmen. We will remove a beneficiary from the FISP programme that will be found wanting next year. Other than that, the sanctions will entail that we shall blacklist the chairperson of that particular group and farmer involved in the selling of government subsidized fertilizer.”
