About 200 irate farmers yesterday stormed Petauke District Commissioner’s office and temporarily locked it demanding to be paid for the maize they sold to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) last year.
The irate farmers locked the offices for almost four hours demanding that they be paid without any further explanation by any official.
They accused FRA district officials of not telling the truth about the status of their money.
The farmers alleged that FRA officials have been running away from their offices.
Petauke District Administrative Officer (DAO), Simeon Banda and police were forced to look for FRA officials who were not available to explain to farmers why payments were delayed.
A check by ZANIS found that other government offices such as the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS), Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) and the District Agricultural Coordinator (DACO) were also locked up by the angry farmers.
Asked why they took such an action, the farmers explained that they decided to lock up the offices so that officers could also feel what it means to live on hungry stomachs.
Meanwhile, District Administrative Officer, Simeon Banda, advised FRA to communicate with farmers so that they did not interrupt government business whenever they sought the attention of officials responsible.
And when contacted for comment, FRA officials in Lusaka who sought anonymity said the agency was in the process of transferring the funds so that the farmers could be paid by March 22, 2012.
ZANIS
Zambia is very scarely.Protests after protests
These petauke id.iots they where told the money went to the msanzala bye election so they should shut up a continue suffering they voted for it
200 youth, now it is 200 farmers…
HE the president needs to consult people in rural areas whether farmers must be paid!LOL! The delay is caused by lack of tv stations to sensitise people on the benefits of more money in their pockets.
How do you expect them to feed the nation next year if you do not pay them. Babgove please wake up
I think that if it is from last year then it was the mmd government that did not take responsibility. I could be wrong.
you gotta be kidding there are many, many tghnis far more dangerous than drinking a soft drink. Joining the military, sun tans, working the night shift in any retail store, living in a large city, while many people smoke a pack of cigarettes a day..I know of nobody who ever drank 20 cokes a day and besides Coke is? 90% WATER
Iwe ukwa when are u going to fulfil ur promises. Are tv stations priority to u than paying farmers.anyway that is ukwa for u .you gave him a parliamentary seat
Msanzala farmers were told to vote PF and burry Peter Daka to be paid and they were also loudly told dont kubeba. Please PF dont pay them so that they learn to listen to reason and avoid voting for you next time.
Gay Scott said farmers will be paid on the spot when PF comes in power; lies always come around. This is a sad development how do you expect a poor farmer to survive?
It is shameful for this government to go around castigating factory and mine owner for the poor conditions of service on the one hand and at the same time leave the poor farmers it bought maize from unpaid for months….and months, and months!
And yes, No. 8 what happened to Guy Scott’s promise that all farmers would be paid by the end of October (….after condemning MMD for not paying even sooner)?
Tell our beloved farmers the truth they children to look after.Please do not work against the govt by not paying what these farmers.We know some of the pipo who want to drive the govt programmes the other way round.Do not give fighting for justice.Go go farmers FRA should go because they telling lies.
HA HA HA, again farmers not paid on time BA -PF what is happening ? Tel the farmers something tangiable you thought to be in govt is a joke.Filiako tuleya abena Zambia mwamona nomba.
Coca Cola is VERY danaging for your body and hlaeth. It contains tons of sugar, caffeine,? gas, and zinc that is also used for cocaine. It’s very destructive if you take it regularly. Probably more damaging than cigarettes.
I think it is safe to say that promises PF made are out the window and that our country will be run to the ground.
When all is said and done, farmers NEED to be paid so we can continue to eat and continue to farm. We have always had a bumper harvest. It’d be a shame to have no food this time around.
The question is are we ready for these tough times? Save and invest your money and brace for tough times.
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