560, 000MT maize transaction bogus – Kampyongo

By NATION REPORTER

THE importation of 650, 000 metric tonnes maize transaction has remained opaque, lacks transparency and is therefore bogus and those involved in the deal shall be made to account when the right time comes, Stephen Kampyongo has said.
Mr Kampyongo, the Opposition Chief Whip says the importation of 650, 000 metric tonnes had been raised in Parliament but as had been the case, the executive had decided to dismiss the issue with a lot of arrogance.
Mr Kampyongo, the Patriotic Front (PF) Shiwang’andu Member of Parliament has challenged Agriculture Minister Reuben Mtolo Phiri to for once address the nation and explain what was happening.
He warned that the mishandling of the contract to import maize from Tanzania had exposed the country to the real risk of food insecurity and yet Government had opted for silence on a matter that was affecting the welfare of citizens.
“At a time that our government should be deeply concerned about the looming famine in the country, they have decided to divert the attention from the food insecurity the country is facing to generating debate about witchcraft, wizards and chameleons.
Serious hunger is looming in the country because as usual corruption is leading in the importation of the 650, 000 metric tonnes of maize from Tanzania,” Mr Kampyongo said.
He said opposition MPs had advised Government against selling all the 1.5 million metric tonnes of maize they had inherited from the PF government but that the response from the executive was nothing but arrogance.
“That maize transaction has all the ingredients of corruption. We were informed that Government had paid for 200, 000 metric tonnes out of the 650, 000 metric tonnes. Now, we have been informed that only 14, 000 metric tonnes has been delivered. There is no transparency at all. We are facing a serious food security situation and this government is failing to bring the maize.
There is real hunger in our communities and yet the ruling party is talking about mobilisation. How do you mobilise a hungry population? he wondered. And Mr Kampyongo has advised that even in the face of the economic hardships, Zambians should remain resilient and pray, knowing that time would soon come to choose a new leadership that would work to serve their interests.
“The distribution of farming inputs has been a mess and chaotic. Zambians are still sharing fertiliser in medas. Look at the exchange rate, the cost of fuel and the general high cost of living Zambians are being subjected to. I urge Zambians to remain united. Ultimately, the Zambians deserve the right to choose a leadership that would emancipate them in 2026,” Mr Kampyongo said.