Govt has released funds to pay farmers – Simuusa

Agriculture and Livestock Minister Wilbur Simuusa has disclosed that funds have been released to clear outstanding payments to farmers in selected districts including those in Chipata.

Mr. Simuusa has told Parliament today that the released funds are meant to cleared all outstanding payments by 100% in four provinces.

He says the farmers will be paid the released funds this week.

Mr. Simuusa adds that Government made considerable progress in clearing all outstanding payments to farmers who supplied maize to the Food Reserve Agency.

Meanwhile Caritas Zambia says it has become unbearable to watch peasant farmers pleading with government to pay them for the maize they supplied to the Food Reserve Agency.

Caritas Zambia Executive Director Sam Mulafulafu notes that the capacity of farmers to participate in the just started farming season has clearly been impaired and literally sabotaged by government’s refusal to pay them their money.

Mr. Mulafulafu says the failure by government to pay farmers on time is a national scandal of which government must be ashamed of.

He has appealed for moral conscience from government to wipe away the tears of farmers.

Mr. Mulafulafu states that Caritas Zambia demands that all the unpaid farmers be paid immediately for they have suffered enough and that the reasons being given for not paying them are totally irrational.

He has further appealed to farmers unions to use their leverage to compel government to stop what he has described as injustice on the farmers.