2 November 2009
ZAMBIA should brace for a low crop yield next year unless the shortage of fuel being experienced in various parts of the country is reversed soon, Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) president Jarvis Zimba has said.
And the National Initiative for Citizen's Awareness (NICA) has urged political leaders to desist from blaming President Rupiah Banda over the fuel crisis because there were some people who want to undermine his leadership and the Government.
Mr Zimba said yesterday that farmers had already started preparing their land for the forthcoming farming season but were worried that their yield would be less than what they were prepared to harvest.
"As a union, we are very worried about the issue of diesel which has serious implications on the country's food security. The situation requires serious attention and not only promises," he said.
The diesel shortage had affected distribution of farming inputs under the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP), which would result in poor yields.
"The distribution of imputs under the FSP is being delayed and the picking of the various inputs from the various depots is being affected by the acute fuel shortage," he said.
The farming season is approaching and the only place where one could find diesel readily available is from illegal fuel vendors.
The continued usage of fuel obtained from illegal fuel vendors suspected to have been mixed with substances such as paraffin destroys tractors engines.
Meanwhile, NICA chairperson Kelvin Sampa said at a Press briefing yesterday that leaders should act responsibly and avoid statements that promote despondency and anarchy.
Mr Sampa said it was not right for some people to abuse their alienable rights to the destruction of the national economy and the lives of Zambians.
He said NICA was unhappy with the manner in which the current fuel shortage had been handled and achievements obtained in the year were being washed away by the artificial fuel shortage.
"It is in this light that we take great exception to politicians that want to take advantage of the crisis and promote divisions and hatred against President Banda," he said.
Mr Sampa said Forum for Development and Democracy (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi had no moral right to criticise President Banda because the country experienced the worst fuel shortage when she was Energy minister.
He said NICA was committed to the promotion of democratic governance, human rights for all and the social economic well-being for all Zambians and genuine investors.
Meanwhile, the shortage of fuel in Kitwe, Ndola and other parts of the country has persisted with a few filling stations having petrol while having little or no diesel.
In Lusaka, some filling stations started receiving supplies late in the afternoon yeterday.
Some petrol attendants said they were expecting some supplies of both petrol and diesel.
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