By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba
Scandal; Government spends $13.5million on troubled Zambeef
Government buys a 1,200 hectares Farm for $13.5million from Zambeef when it has millions of hectares of free land
Government has acquired the Zambeef
Chiawa farm at a cost of US$13.5 million without tender processess or public procurement competition.
Government states that it will use the Zambia National Service (ZNS) to use the farm and expand its maize production and contribute to the country’s food security.
Government sits on millions of hectares of free land under its leasehold and state control.
In the 90s, government sold its state farms under the agressive privatization programme.
But recently government using the 1995 Land Act, set aside land for the adopted Zambian farm block development programme (FBDP) where Government had aside one million hectares of land for this development.
To cede such large tracts of such land to the State, government entered into negotiations with traditional authorities – comprising 4 paramount chiefs, 8 senior chiefs and 240 chiefs overseeing 73 tribes living on customary land.
It succesfully established 11 farming blocks namely; Masonde Farm Block,Mbesuma Ranch Block, Mansha Farm Block, Chikumbilo Farm Block, Nansanga Farm Block, Chongwe Farming Block, Simango Farm Block, Kalumwange Farm Block, Luswishi Farm Block, Solwezi Farm Block and Luena Farm Block.
But the Farming Block programme has suffered greatly as governments over the years have consistently failed to fund development of farm block infrastructure such as dams, access roads and bridges, electricity transmission lines and associated infrastructure.
But strangely, it has found a collasal $13.5million (K351million) to buy a small commercial farm?
We must understand that Zambeef is in trouble and is undegoing restructuring as demonstrated by recent events.
Recently the UK Government owned British International Investment Plc, hired Lazard Inc. to advise it on its Zambia Deal that has soured.
British International Investment (BII) invested $65 million in Zambeef’s securities in 2016.
Zambeef’s shares are currently valued at £28 million. British International Investment Plc, has hired Lazard Inc to help reschedule and restructure the debt.
The UK government’s development-finance arm invested $65 million in Zambeef Products Plc’s securities in 2016, when the market value of the company was about £46 million ($59 million).
The Lusaka-based firm now has a market capitalization of £28 million as at July 4, 2024.
Clearly someone has used public funds in excess of 13.5million to shore up the troubled company.
Scandal.
If it is government money, was it budgeted for? If it is IDC money it is different matter. But if it is the latter, why give it to ZNS and ZCS? Lots of questions ba UPND. Wina azalila kutangu ka. Let’s not think we clever bane.
Three no harm here, after all this piece of land have other properties that is already in place which the two big government security wings will utilise in the immediate. So there’s nothing wrong. Infact more land being acquired by both. ZNS and ZCS for use in the immediate and long term so it’s fine those who want to take advantage of their usual lies and propaganda will remain in their lane while other serious business minded people are working.
And that has already been mentioned that all the equipments have been taken over. So wheres the problem.
The PF are always concerned when money is mentioned because that’s where their hearts are
Abena Zambezi, you will even eat the tribalist conman’s faeces, just to show loyalty to your corrupt tribemate.
Vote wisely in 2026.
We need to have answers to this question.Tell us, I don’t always listen to these opposition people because they are full of lies.But for this one i want to know the truth.But if this is a lie are the so called whistle blowers free to continue alarming and if the whistle bower is correct are Zambians ready to be cheated like that?
Madilu yakwa Hichilema yonse aya. This man should just run away after he loses elections in 2026, because if he remains in Zambia he will spend the rest of his life in Chimbokaila prison. So his praise singers , who pretend not to see his wrongs, should advise him to run away immediately he loses! We know he wants to rig , but we the suffering Zambians will not allow him to rig. It won’t work! Infact he knows already that he will not manage to rig because very very few Zambians want him!
Iwe stanyoko together with indigo mwembwamwe bamakaka, pfidiots! By the time you realise you’ll be on the ran kwati kaizer na tayali, and now you’ve added the other pfidiot jj!!!!
These are immediate solutions to the current crisis facing our country and you want to take advantage of the government fails to produce enough to feed the nation? Why didn’t you invest the millions you borrowed to develop the same farm blocks you are talking about? Didn’t your PF invest in your pockets as cadres? Aikona man! Let the UPND work for Zambians, not individuals!
Emanuel mwamba is just a CHIKALA and a satan nyoko
The son of the devil LUNGU
Do not issue insults please. Let us just promote good understanding through together ness. Insults are good at all.