By Gibson Zulu
VICE-PRESIDENT Mutale Nalumango says Government is mobilising funds to settle outstanding payments to farmers who supplied maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
Speaking during the Vice-President’s Question Time in the National Assembly on Friday, Ms Nalumango assured affected farmers that Government was working to pay them as soon as possible.
She said funds were being mobilised through the national budget, commercial banks and other sources to meet the outstanding obligations.
Nalumango was responding to Chama Central Member of Parliament Yotam Mtayachalo, who raised concerns over delays in paying farmers for maize supplied to the FRA.
Mtayachalo said some farmers had gone for two months without receiving payment, a situation he feared could affect their preparations for the next farming season.
He also questioned the delays, saying farmers had previously received payments promptly before the August general elections.
In response, Nalumango maintained that government was committed to paying farmers but needed to mobilise sufficient resources.
She disclosed that the FRA had bought more than two million metric tonnes of maize, exceeding the government’s initial target of 500,000 metric tonnes.
The Vice-President said government would need to export some of the maize to raise additional funds for continued purchases.
She, however, urged farmers to retain sufficient maize for household consumption rather than selling their entire harvest.
Retirementin the national interest
Meanwhile, Nalumango clarified that the legal provisions allowing public service workers to be retired in the national interest remained in force.
She said although Government had previously announced that public service workers would not be retired in the national interest, the existing legal framework could still be invoked where circumstances warranted.
The Vice-President distinguished retirement in the national interest from disciplinary action arising from misconduct or poor performance.
Civil servants warned against partisan politics
On the role of civil servants in implementing government programmes, Nalumango said public officers were expected to remain politically neutral and implement the policies of the government of the day.
She warned that civil servants who engaged in partisan politics while holding public office risked dismissal.
Nalumango said public officers wishing to participate actively in politics should resign from the civil service.
She argued that political interference by civil servants could undermine the implementation of government programmes and national development.
The Vice-President cited her decision to leave the teaching profession and enter politics, saying she had wanted the freedom to express her views on national issues.
Political competition and democracy
On political competition, Nalumango urged opposition political parties to strengthen their structures, articulate their policies and compete for public support.
She said political parties should operate within established democratic principles rather than expect their opponents to create opportunities for them.
The Vice-President maintained that political competition should be conducted within the law.
VP warns against threats to president’s life
Nalumango also warned that threats against the life of the President were criminal matters that could attract prosecution.
She was responding to a question concerning allegations that individuals within the public service were sharing state information with fugitives.
The Vice-President said a distinction should be made between legitimate political criticism and threats against an individual’s life.
She said criticism was permissible in a democracy, but threats of violence could constitute criminal conduct.
On allegations of individuals concealing the whereabouts of fugitives or sharing restricted information with them, Nalumango said the legal implications would depend on the circumstances.
She added that Zambia could seek the extradition of individuals from other countries where applicable legal arrangements existed.
Photo Credit: W.K Mutale Nalumango’s Facebook Page
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