By JOHN KOMBE
CHONGWE Member of Parliament Sylvia Masebo, has warned Farmer Input Supply Programme (FISP) distributors in Chongwe against any form of malpractice.
She said the programme must be corruption free.
Ms. Masebo made the observation when she addressed residents of Mulenje and Chongwe central wards yesterday.
She vowed to clean-up the FISP, alleging that it had been marred with gross malpractices.
She stressed that Chongwe was the food basket of the Lusaka Province and as such the FISP inputs must reach the intended beneficiaries.
She alleged that some distributors had been involved in malpractices ranging from fake beneficiaries to giving farmers less inputs than intended.
Ms Masebo said that she would ensure that all forms of malpractices were brought to an end, stating that some distributors had been found wanting, but no action was ever taken.
She pointed out that the farmers had not yet started redeeming the inputs although most of them had already made the deposits.
She hoped that the exercise would start soon so that the farmers were ready to plant with the first rains.
Ms Masebo said that the 2020/2021 exercise was started by the previous government, but promised to closely monitor the input distribution to ensure that there was no malpractices.
She warned the companies contracted to distribute the inputs not to engage in corrupt practices during the distribution exercise.
Ms Masebo also promised to ensure that stalled road upgrade projects were completed, as an improved road network was key in enhancing agriculture activities.
She promised that she would also work on feeder roads that had been impassable during the rainy season.
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