Quick response by alert police officers saved Serenje district commissioner Ronald Sinyangwe’s life from being assaulted by irate farmers who stormed his office demanding payment for their maize produce last farming season.
ZANIS reports from Serenje today that the armed farmers stormed Mr. Sinyangwe’s office calling for his blood as they demanded payment for the maize they sold to government last year.
And Central Province minister Philip Kosamu who confirmed the development in an interview said it was unfortunate that Serenje farmers could threaten to assault the embattled District commissioner while demanding payments for their produce even after government assured them that their plight was being addressed.
Meanwhile deputy police commanding officer for central province Nelson Phiri whom Serenje district police officer commanding Daniel Museteka referred to for all queries concerning the matter said when contacted that he had not received the information.
Mr. Sinyangwe who confirmed the development to ZANIS today described the situation as tense saying the farmers, close to 100, stormed his office threatening to beat him up accusing government of deliberately delaying to pay them their money.
He said police in riot gear were quickly called in to help calm the situation as the farmers forced him to go to the Finance bank branch and ask the management to pay them from whatever amount the bank had so that government could reimburse the bank.
“the situation was tense and thanks to the police who acted professionally otherwise the farmers were in a bad mood,’ he said.
Mr. Sinyangwe said his plea for them to give government a little more time to sort out their problem of payments, seemed not to be heeded by the farmers who complained that they wanted the money to pay school fees for their children since schools have opened today.
He said the farmers who also complained of sleepless nights and hunger because they come from far flung areas also demanded transport from government to take them back to their various respective homes.
Mr Sinyangwe however said Ibolelo ward PF councilor, Chester and himself (DC) have donated a 25kg bag of mealie meal for the affected farmers to eat before they leave for their respective villages.
He further said his office was finding it difficult to meet their demand for transport to take them back to their various homes because his office could not manage to do that.
And Felix Kalunga, a farmer of Chalilo in chief Chitambo’s area in Serenje who was among the farmers demanding payments, told ZANIS in a telephone interview that all farmers wanted was their money and nothing else.
Mr. Kalunga said farmers felt government was cheating them and just wanted to cool them down by asking them to extend their patience when government allegedly doing nothing to sort out their payment issues.
Mr. Kalunga sold 148 by 50kg bags of maize to FRA last year in August, explained that he had waited for too long and with nothing fruitful coming from government.
ZANIS
It is sad they did not beat him up, the farmers spend all their money on transport.
About time somebody was ‘taught’ a lesson to set an example. These farmers feed the nation, and this is how the nation ‘rewards’ them. So, where is the incentive for the jobless youth to take up farming as a means of subsistence?
All the money has gone to pay all the COIs to intimidate former leaders.Huge chunk of money is the pockets of Alexander Chikwanda for the renovations of the former state house.Power Fail,ures(PF) have no heart for poor Zambians especially the farmers they only think of kaponyas who put them in power.Visionless chaps,this year we start importing yellow maize,prices to go up etc kaya this year???????????????????
#3 You have summed it up very well, no more to add! Didn’t our muzungu vice president say that the farmers would receive payments in October last year, three months later they are still waiting!
If 90 day in PF language is 90 months then calculate when will it be october ? We have to understand they did not mean anything they said to get into power.
A sign of things yet to come. Don’t remember such things in RB’s time.
#5 That’s because Ale Bee would have instructed the police to shoot on sight!!
Rubbish!!!, Its because RB cared for the farmers (producers), not these ng’wang’wazizis in the streets of lusaka and ndola
Lol more money in the pocket! When people get emancipated from oppression and know their rights they tend to also become fearless. It’s their money and they need it!
Man of action where are u? Its not as easy as being district governor to run a country. HEMCS Pliz punish them more so that they know u and give that money zulu for commissions of inquiry why the farmers are making noise
what a delay please give them money before i join them.because i am bad muli ilyaine style.
Yabah more money in farners’pockets? Its don’t kubeba at play, as Zambia sinks into doldrums under pf.
Farmers you will  start receving your money very soon. this graze elofya kuli imwe.
The worst part is that even the money k65000 per bag is too little considering the input and labour. If you sale 200 by 50kg bags, you only get k13m. Its like our farmers are receiving a raw deal just to keep the millie meal price low. Fertiliser is as expensive as k240000 per bag in Chingola. In Kaunda days, those olden good days, a bag of maize 90kg could sale at k5.0 when a bag of fertiliser was k6.0 and that was a realistic deal other than what is prevailing now. Those benefitting from fertiliser support are very few and the number of bags allocated is only meant for their consumption and not for sale.
This reminds me of the promissory notes that were given to farmers just before UNIP was kicked out and Sata was still in UNIP.Â
what are shame. And “they” say they want to eliminate poverty when they are treating the food sources with ignorance. GRZ please set your priorities straight
MAN OF ACTION where are you?When are you acting on your promises?Fake man of action .deceived people that you have actions when not.shame
It is easy to blame the current Govt but I feel most of the blame shud fall on MMD. To start with in a ploy to woo farmers, they bought alot more than they had budgeted for. Initial payments were quickly made to give an impression of a working Govt prior to the elections and this left a serious dificit come Oct 2011. The 2012 budget addresses this gap and the appeal shud be for PF to expardite the process so that these farmers get their dues. The sad thing is these will not have an effective farming season since they didnt get their money in time to plant for this season. I guess that’s one of the prices we are paying as country for the change of governance. A necessary cleansing if u ask me! Hang in there and PF pliz come thru for the poverty striken small scale farmers!
Man of action should always find answers. This issue of saying the problem was left by MMD is not what Zambians want. They kicked out MMD in anticipation of improved servicse for pipo to continue putting the blame on MMD is simply accepting failure. Results and results only is what zambians want.Please man of action come out from yuor closet and do what u promised pipo.We not want pipo to change you name from man of action to man of lies.Â
Critics do you think the new government will create money just like that in 4 months! Thats why they have have set up COIs so that we get the stolen money back, and to mend the past so that a better present and future is built. Dont you see that some money was even being buried, dont just be negative about the new government, they are doing what we voted them to do -correct the glaring mistakes made by the past “thieving government” even donor confidence has been restored. Long live HE and wisdom to the new government. GOD BLESS ZAMBIA.
This is unacceptable Farmers are about to harvest their proceeds for 2012 yet they are still owed money?? Beat them up you have the right FARMERS. President SATA Please make sure this matter is resolved ASAP.
@6, RB left bumper harvests for you. Ensure you lundapo naimwe and not failing to pay for people’s produce.
Kwena this is very disappointing .Given Lubinda is saying the  cabinet will  eat to discuss online publications and yet our farmers are still languishing in poverty . Nensoni aba bantu tabakwata .
When do these farmers buy input for their fiels if they are still not paid upto now? the Commissions of Inquiries just came now and the money to go every whrer was found as well as allowaances whilst farmers payments have pendinding from the MMD. Namwalekele fye RB theor fellow farmer to finish his good job as he had a heart for our agric than you guy.Â
Dull farmers they don’t seem to understand PF ‘s caledar do they? If 90 days means 90 months, Guy scotish said last year that  they will all be paid by October.Did they think he meant last October ? Not even this October you chaps, forget about buying fertiliser he meant october in 2015 just before the next elections. Same with money in the pockets ,all you who thought you will have a nice Christmas had a shock of your lives-you drank water. Lozis I will have to pray hard for the meaning of your dream as far as Sata ‘s promise. But so far indicators are that he meant he will ” never hounered ” the agreement.
I know who you should beat up instead of that poor man. It’s his ….. no farmers can’t tell you in case Lubinda now has the physical location of LT which he real wants eyes red to to sort bloggers out at the airport when they try visit zed before 2016.
Oh, and the presido promised 15 bags of fertiliser to the farmers. I am sure the farmers have started getting them as per campaign promise.
If you are able to find trillions of kwacha to fund COIs then you should as well find money to pay farmers, after all this was in the budget while the COIs were not budgeted for. This is indeed a gvt of trial an error. More money in our pockets or is it? Better address this issue urgently than the online publications.
Pliz understand that it is not the DC but FRA…leave the innocent soul alone
Fear not PF will sort out yet another mmd failing.