Andrew Lungu
10 November 2009
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has urged farmers not to abuse the agricultural inputs acquired through the fertilizer input support programme (FSP) to ensure high productivity and reduce reliance on food relief.
Speaking at a public rally in Chama yesterday, Mr Banda said the inputs received from Government should be used for the intended purpose.
He noted with dismay that some farmers who acquired farming inputs in the same programme last year, abused the facility as some of the inputs ended up being sold on the black market.
The president said the Government was committed to ensuring that the country continued to produce enough food for household consumption and extra for export.
He said the Government had already distributed all the farming inputs to all the districts in the country although the packs had been reduced to four to benefit small-scale farmers.
The president, who went to Chama to thank the people there for giving him massive support, reiterated his commitment to fulfill promises made to the Zambian people during last year's Presidential by- election campaign.
He said the promises that he made last year during elections that he would be the president of all Zambians regard less of political affiliation were now bearing fruit.
President Banda said he would have thanked the people of Chama a long time ago but he was unable to do so as he was settling down in the office.
"When you elected me, I promised you that I will carry on with all the programmes initiated by my predecessor, Dr Levy Mwanawasa to construct more schools, bridges and roads infrastructure," the president said.
He said Government had awarded Sable Contractors a contract to construct Matumbo Bridge at Luangwa River to enable the people of Chama to find it easy to go to Chinsali.
"Government has awarded a contract to Sable Contractors to construct the long awaited Matumbo Bridge across the Luangwa River in order to connect the people of Chama to their traditional cousins of Chinsali in Northern Province. The road has already been done so far, "the president said.
He also said he had taken the words of Senior Chief Kambombo about the bad road network and bridges seriously.
He urged the Zambian people to always cherish the peace they have enjoyed.
Speaking at the same rally former Patriotic Front secretary general, Edward Mumbi said MMD was the only party that could take development to all parts of Zambia.
Mr Mumbi said he left PF because the party lacked transparency in running party affairs.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 The Times of Zambia. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
