PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PLANS TO IMPORT MAIZE FROM EAST AFRICA YET AGAIN EXPOSES THE UPND GOVERNMENT OF ITS LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND PATRIOTISM
Lusaka, March 10 – Revelations by the Minister of Information and Media, Mr. Cornelius Mweetwa that the UPND Administration plans to import maize grain from Uganda and Tanzania makes very sad reading and it’s another confirmation that President Hakainde Hichilema is just big on talking yet has no clue what it takes to run a Government.
We say it’s sad because the incorrigible UPND Government went against the advice from various stakeholders who urged Mr. Hichilema to desist from exporting our national strategic reserves for 2019, 2020 and 2021.
In his typical style of being a Mr. Know It All, President Hakainde went ahead and sold 1.5 million metric tones of maize from FRA deports whose proceeds to this day have not been accounted for.
As if that was not bad enough, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Mutolo Phiri, lied before the floor of the House in Parliament with a straight face that no Zambian would starve as the nation had enough maize grain.
However, recent queues of citizens lining up for Mealie meal in different parts of the country confirms a looming crisis of the shortage of both maize and Mealie meal alike.
It’s therefore extremely saddening that Mr. Hakainde would want to import maize from Tanzania, a country that was buying the commodity from Zambia a few months ago.
This self imposed crisis could have been avoided if the UPND Government which has exhibited an insatiable appetite for money, did not export our maize in national strategic reserves.
I would like to warn Mr. Hichilema that this attitude of running national affairs as if it was his personal business must come to an end. His ill-advised tendency to portray himself as the most intelligent citizen is costing his Government its fast depleting popularity countrywide.
Issued by:
Harry Kalaba
Citizens First President
Member of the United Kwacha Alliance
Kalaba show some respect. You lot make HH sound like a jack of all trades.you have proof it was HH that sold that maize.? You lack respect how can wr have a leader without respect like you? HH is doing the best he can for us the Zambians unlike people like you puffing themselves up with self importance
You’re talking like a young child leaning how to talk. World wide countries trade with one another and Zambia cannot be an exception. The other time, was it SATA or LUNGU who helped Malawi with millions and millions of litres of fuel when that country was in a crisis and you were just ndwii and bbwiii in your blankets. Talk sense and not foolishness then people will listen to you, not this rubbish.
Kalaba, don’t behave like Imbwa!
KALABA FOR PRESIDENT
Mr President Elect (in waiting) you have my vote.
UPND have brought Frank Bwalya back to government…. UPND are bringing thieves from PF…..what a shame
At the time of making the decision to sale, the UPND government were eying the two birds in the bush instead of looking on the bird in hand, it was a mistake and in announcing the buy back close with Tanzania, they should have first apologized for the blunder before announcing that they had included a “buy back” close in the maize transaction. But like all politicians, they would like others to apologies while they keep a tight lip. Of course they will say otherwise but it looks like a buy back at a higher price because transport costs alone will be two way
If the 2019 and 2020 grains were kept up to now im sure thry would have gone to waste.
So the best was to offload and stock with fresh grains of 2021 and 22 farming season.
Again who would have predicted that they would no rains in 23 to 24 farming season as these are natural calamities which can not be avoided.
Had the rains been favourable,this country would have had a bumper harvest,seeing how the citizens had gone to farming all over the country.
When the neive and the sluggard in thought and deed are the drivers and architects of our national common destiny, how do you allow food in your mouth to slobber so easily without thinking of tomorrow? It’s inconsequential that a ravegging drought had now downed on this new down gover may be they will learn it howbeit the harder way for the common man.
Just like the way we helped Tanzania when they had no maize, they will also help this time around! We depend on one another; that’s business!
Ba Kalengo, they are not obliged to help. Suppose they have barely enough to cover their needs?
We must not rely on the good will of others. Let us take full charge of our destiny.
Prudence requires that you have a reserve to fall back on in case of any eventuality.
We made a grave error to sell off our maize stocks in anticipation of a bumper harvest this year. Suppose we have an even more severe drought next rain season?
Lesson – we should keep a minimum two years of maize reserves. The silos from the Namboard days are lying empty. Let us utilize them. We gambled and lost big.