By Isaac Zulu
The UPND administration’s methodical way of doing things has created a food crisis, says Stephen Kampyongo.
Featuring on Radio Phoenix Let the People Talk programme, Kampyongo said that the UPND government should stop the blame game on the shortage of mealie meal in the country because other than canceling certain contracts in the procurement of fertiliser, it also allowed the exportation of maize and mealie meal to neighbouring countries.
“You can’t throw away enablers in the food supply chain. You decided to do away with the suppliers in the procurement of farming inputs just because you don’t like them. And you opt to single source from company A and B. Instead of putting the interest of majority Zambians first, they decided to put their business interest first. They allowed the exportation of maize without looking at the stock levels in the storage facilities. That was not an informed decision. And if that is a methodical way of doing things, it has created a crisis,” Kampyongo said. “They are taking measures when it is too late. It’s too late. This is a crisis. They should show leadership and address this food insecurity.”
The Shiwang’andu member of parliament said that the UPND administration does not take advice.
“Our colleagues in the UPND government should learn to consult. We are ready to render advice if consulted. When we came in government we did not abandon the FISP. We inherited it from the MMD and continued with it,” Kampyongo said.
He said that there have been some contradictory statements from government on the availability of maize and mealie meal in the country, which is said an indication that there is no coordination among Cabinet Ministers.
“This is chipantepante way of doing things. Cabinet should be seen to be functional not where ministers are issuing contradictory statements on the shortage of maize and mealie meal. The Ministry of Media and Information director spokesperson is making his own rantings, then the following day the minister of agriculture says something else. Days later the minister of defence and his home affairs counterpart are saying something different,” he said.
Kampyongo said that food insecurity has the potential to adversely affect national security, saying when people have no food they resort to lawlessness.
“We saw how people were stoning a truck carrying mealie meal. National security is adversely affected. And now the men and women in uniform are being abused,” Kampyongo said.
He said that Zambians should hold government to account, saying the UPND is failing to honour its campaign promises.
“They promised to reduce the price of mealie meal to K50. They promised to reduce the price of fertiliser to K250 and promised to increase the number of bags of fertiliser for FISP beneficiaries. Are these things there? The answer is no. We should hold government to account. And as members of parliament coming from the opposition, we shall continue to provide checks and balances on the current government,” said Kampyongo.
