. Simuusa

By CHARITY MOONGA –
THE Government has released K400 million out of the outstanding K685 million to pay farmers countrywide.
Meanwhile, Parliament yesterday adjourned sine die after sitting for 43 days.
Agriculture and Livestock Minister Wylbur Simuusa said in a ministerial statement yesterday that the money would be used to pay farmers in Muchinga, Southern, Central, Eastern and Northern provinces.
He appealed to banks to ensure the farmers were paid as quickly as possible. The treasury was sourcing for the remaining balance of K285 million to ensure all farmers were paid.
The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) had been authorised to offload 650,000 tonnes of maize on the domestic and export markets between November 2014 and April 2015.
On the issue of rice, all farmers who supplied the commodity had since been cleared and the total cost was K1, 673, 220.
To date, FRA has signed contracts with local and export market players to sell 192,150 tonnes and that quantity is expected to raise a total of K48.1 million and US$38.6 million, respectively.
The Government is also working to ensure increased secure storage to avoid wastage of the purchased commodities and, to this end, 27 slabs have been upgraded in various districts.
Ten provincial grain silos, with a capacity of 50,000 tonnes each are also in place.
Opposition MPs took Mr Simuusa to task over the continued delays in paying the farmers.
Luena ADD MP Gertrude Imenda asked whether the Government would export the surplus maize considering the looming drought.
Mr Simuusa said the Government was concerned about the rainfall pattern and would review the manner in which it would deal with the excess crop.
Earlier in a point of order, Mazabuka Central UPND MP Gary Nkombo questioned the decision by the PF Cabinet to remove acting President Guy Scott from that position without following procedure as laid down in the Constitution.
But Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini referred Mr Nkombo to the courts of law as he had no jurisdiction over that matter.
Moving the motion to adjourn Parliament yesterday, Transport Minister Yamfwa Mukanga paid tribute to the late Republican President Michael Sata.
Mr Nkombo called for an end to violence as Zambia goes to the polls next month.
Law-enforcement agencies should act above board and abhor violence.