Mon, 05 Jun 2017 13:06:30 +0000
GTAZ to reap what it sowed last year
Dear Editor,
I think that the Grain Traders Association of Zambia (GTAZ) executive director, Chambuleni Simwinga was wrong to insist that the 10 percent export duty on maize, coupled with the current low prices of the commodity, would have a huge negative impact on Zambian farmers when the 19-member Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) stretching from Zimbabwe to Libya has a market of over 400 million people for the grain.
Better still, by each country leveraging its potential, this whole region cannot only have sufficient food stocks but also create a booming market for many Zambian value-added agricultural products (“Grain traders forecast bleak maize market”, Daily Nation, June 3, 2017).
Even though the GTAZ executive director said that the laws of supply and demand had already taken effect and that the current prices on the local market were frighteningly low, it is incumbent upon GTAZ to put its house in order.
But why, and how will they do it? Examining last year’s maize games GTAZ played, when it unwittingly decided not to bail out FRA meet its annual target of 500,000 metric tonnes of strategic reserves when it was realized that the latter had registered a shortfall was quite mind boggling.
But this year, GTAZ would have to reap what it sowed by not offloading its excess hoarded maize stocks to FRA last year.
Besides, for Zambia, developing the agricultural sector is much more than about food security but value addition and industrialization.
It is about diversifying from copper mining which has and still is the prime mover of the economy.
Given the shocks that the economy had previously suffered on account of overreliance on its extractive industry, Zambia is in fact behind in diversifying the economy and needs an agricultural sector running at its peak coupled with value addition and industrialization.
In addition to domestic and international market, Zambia is surrounded by eight neighbours, some of whom have very little agriculture, like DR Congo.
That is a regional market waiting to be fed with Zambian mealie meal and stock feeds.
The reality is that much as African countries would like to access European and American markets, Africa, with a billion consumers, has a huge market within itself and countries must use their competitive and comparative advantages in value addition and industrialization.
All in all, Zambia provides a perfect example of what Africa should seriously resolve: put to good productive use of those hectares of healthy, fertile agricultural lands that lie idle, while food insecurity remains a constant threat to socio-economic development in rural areas.
Mubanga Luchembe,
LUSAKA
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Kudos ambassador Emmanuel Mwamba
Dear Editor,
I write to commend Emmanuel Mwamba who is the ambassador to the Republic of South Africa (RSA) for spearheading Zambia’s standing on the international fora amid all critics.
Ever since his appointment as the ambassador, Mr Mwamba has worked tirelessly to defend the wrong concept some people in that Country have been aligning Zambia to.
Zambia is a democratic Country that has helped a lot of Countries in Africa to actually attain independence and the wrong sentiments coming from some circles are therefore unfortunate and need to be cleared with the utmost urgency.
It has never been in any history of this Country that we are privy as a nation to the number of Zambians living in any Country.
Interestingly however, we as a nation now know how many Zambians are in South Africa and also how many are in prison in that Country over varying offences.
To this, Emmanuel has really been a servant of mother Zambia.
Congrats Emmanuel and continue with the hard work you are doing for Zambia in RSA.
Wisdom Muyunda
CHINGOLA
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Addressing Jerabos situation in Chingola
Dear Editor
I write with a lot of reflection and advice on how the Jerabo situation in Chingola and other mining towns can be addressed by those in authority.
First and foremost, it is important to know that Jerabos just like many youths and women are always used by those aspiring for political office when it is time for campaigns.
Many a time however, those who get elected forget them and treat them as rejects with impunity.
Whether it is because power corrupts or not is anyone’s guess.
Here in Chingola we have Civic leaders who even boast that we already voted (mwali nvotela kale) for them and can therefore do anything with impunity without looking at the complainants of those who spearheaded their election.
Jerabos are actually mainly a making of most political office aspirants and feel used after the election period.
As coming to how best to address the situation of Jerabos, Government and Mining Firms should actually engage them so that the copper these Jerabos extract can be sold to the same mines.
We should know that where these Jerabos extract the Copper, no mine can take their equipment there to mine because it is mainly the dump sites; which can only be excavated by these small scale miners called Jerabos.
Also to note is that these people need day to day cash to meet their many financial challenges, hence employing them is actually out.
George Sichula when as District Commissioner for Chingola once made a pragmatic effort and engaged them through their then boss popularly known as Debra so that they can be employed by KCM.
However, out of about 200 that were registered through his office and were engaged by KCM, only 15 remained because they are used to daily cashing and not monthly remunerations.
Not until our Civic Leaders stopped the impunity behaviour that has brought up a lot of misgivings from a lot of people who campaigned for them when they ascend to power, the situation could become worse.
MW
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Flash out corrupt civil servants at Chingola council
Dear Editor,
I write to urge the Local Government Authority to clean Chingola by flashing out corrupt civil servants.
Chingola is not seeing any development because top civil servants are engulfed into a lot of enriching themselves at the expense of development.
How else can one explain plot Number 11848 measuring 100×80 and plot Number 9709 measuring 270x200x180x40 designated as High Cost Plots yet are well above the High Cost measurements, belonging to the top Council Officials.
No wonder these people are resisting transfers and the Commission seem to be comfortable with the situation when a lot of poor Zambians in Chingola are defined as illegal squatters.
Some top Civic Leaders are actually facilitating their continued stay here because they are a part to the rot.
Yet junior officers are daily being maligned to divert their wrongful doing.
Can the clean-up reach Chingola please?
James Mwamba
CHINGOLA.
