By Staff Reporter
Agriculture minister Mtolo Phiri is annoying people over the handling of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), says paramount chief of the Ngoni people of Eastern Province, Mpezeni.
“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.
