Democratic Union concerned with plight of farmers who remain unpaid
The Democratic Union (DU) has expressed concern with the plight of farmers ahead of the 2025 – 2026 farming season.
In his independence day message to Republican President Hakainde Hichilema, DU President Ackim Antony Njobvu said in an interview from state house that it was worrying a huge chunk of farmers had not yet received their payments for the supply of maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
And Njobvu has taken a swipe at the ministry of agrivulture for being inconsistent in settling dues owed to farmers.
Njobvu says the current position is putting farmers in panic in view of the rains, adding that delays in paying farmers would compromise food security.
He noted that some farmers, despite supplying the commodity to FRA as far back as July have not yet receive their monies.
This, he says is making it difficulty for farmers to adequately prepare for the next agricultural season.
Njobvu has since demanded that President Hichilema intervens on the matter as quickly as possible by ensuring that famers are paid without further delays, adding that agriculture minsiter Reuben Mtolo Phiri has been sleeping on duty.
Francis Chipalo
