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By BARNABAS ZULU
THABO Kawana yesterday stormed MAFKEN Radio in Mufulira and rudely disrupted a live programme in which local residents were voicing concerns about delayed payments by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) for the maize supplied to Government last farming season.
Mr. Kawana, the Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary, who was not invited to the studio, broke in with officials from his ministry and the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) and trashed the concerns of the callers, claiming that in fact Government had already paid all the farmers.
Footage shared by Mr. Kawana himself shows him questioning the presenter about the topic of discussion and claiming that Government had so far paid out K3 billion to farmers.
“What were you lambasting?” Mr. Kawana asked the presenter, who calmly responded that the programme was addressing complaints from farmers across the Copperbelt regarding the FRA’s delayed payments.
“So what has it done?” he pressed. The presenter replied, “We were talking about the extension of the closing of the crop marketing season… I was just asking people’s views on it.”
Mr. Kawana continued to press for details, asking; “And they said what?” The presenter noted, “Some were happy and some were not happy about it because they want their money.”
Mr. Kawana dismissed the concerns, stating, “They are being paid. Nobody is going beyond without being paid. In fact, there is hardly anybody going beyond one month without being paid,” claiming that as of October 2024, the FRA had paid over K3 billion to farmers.
“In fact, as of October, FRA has paid over K3 billion to farmers across the country… and we have extended the period because of the drought situation. There were some areas where they didn’t supply the maize. So we have extended it from October 31, 2024, to November 30, 2024,” he explained.
He said under the new dawn administration, the FRA would not owe any farmers money.
“We budgeted for it and are giving them the money,” Mr. Kawana said.
He admitted the historical issues of delayed payments, stating; “In the past, it could go beyond three years. I can also tell you to tell them that it will not pass another 10 days. They will be cleared. Money is there.”
Mr. Kawana stressed the government’s commitment to supporting farmers. “The idea is to encourage the farmer. We don’t want to be the one that collects maize from the farmer… and then boast as government that we have secured strategic food reserves.”
He expressed his intent to engage with the public directly. “I am aware how they just lambast government. That is why I come and discuss and engage with the people… I am not asking you not to tell the people to check the government. But let’s work together.”
