By Merlyn Mwanza
President Hakainde Hichilema says he acknowledged the criticism by paramount chief of the Ngoni people, Mpezeni who recently condemned the delayed delivery of fertilizer and other farming inputs around the country.
Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Mpezeni yesterday, President Hichilema said his administration delayed the delivery of fertilizer and other farming inputs, saying he heard what the paramount chief said on the same matter and that what he said was the truth, saying the government was working on it.
“We accept that problem. Where you see us going wrong, please tell us. We shall accept and work to rectify,” President Hichilema said.
The President also told the paramount chief that that he always tells his ministers, and other government and party officials that they were servants of the people, adding that the government was working towards changing the law to quicken access to the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
He said he was in the area to also witness the graduation of a student, Zulu, who he said he has supported from the lower grades, through secondary and now tertiary education, saying the people always said he was choosy with which people he uplifted, but Zulu was from Eastern Province itself.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Mpezeni recently denounced Agriculture minister Mtolo Phiri saying he was just angering people over the manner they are handling the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
“Kukambako ine ninga ine kukambako kuti aah a minister ba Agriculture abo baliye longosole ndaba nga aba bantu aba akine abaika pati? Chioneka monga kwati aba bantu abasula (What I can say is that the minister of Agriculture has erred, because how does he remove others from FISP in favour of new people. It seems they have no regard for the people). How can it be that because you have born a new child, then you stop feeding the old children and say the only one who will be eating is this new child, the old one no,” Mpezeni said to Daily Revelation.
Mpezeni said he disapproved of the move because it was not right.
He said everyone should benefit from government programmes, as government belongs to all and was voted for by people from across all sections of society.
“Manje ngati asalule lomba chizankala bwanji (So what will become of the situation if they start choosing)?” Mpezeni asked, and urged President Hakainde Hichilema that there will be hunger next year as most people will not do the farming. “Kaili already be ba minister kuti ati yayi asachite benefit nibamene aba banalembesa manje. Lomba njala sizasila muziko ahaha (The minister has already said that those who will benefit are the newly registered. Therefore it means hunger won’t finish in this country). We were all supposed to benefit as we are one people,” Mpezeni said.
He warned against the move.
“Asati achite benefit nimuntu umozi. Lomba so pakuchita so oganiza kwati bantu azagwilizano nao? Sanga gwilizane nao bwino (They are saying only new ones should benefit. But in doing so do they think they are pleasing the others who will be removed from the list of beneficiaries? They surely won’t please them at all. This is not working together with the people). I am just requesting the President not to go along with the minister of agriculture,” Mpezeni said. “Ndaba uku nikulengesa bantu kuti bakalipe ka (This is just angering people).”
Mpezeni further said the government should hurry in giving farming inputs to farmers as most people have not even collected fertilizer, saying he was speaking for the people who have not yet received the fertilizer.
“Koma apeleke kubantu fertilizer kaili. Njala izachepelela muziko (Let them take the fertilizer to the people. Only then will hunger reduce in the country),” said Mpezeni.
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