Favourite K. Chisi

By Favourite Kalando “We are not ready now to handle the consequences and costs that come with Genetically Modified Food (GMOs),” HIVOS Southern Africa Advocacy Officer for Sustainable Diets, William Chilufya has said. Last year, the National Bio-safety Authority, a government agency tasked to oversee and regulate agricultural related products - less those inclined with GMOs, granted three distributors new permits to import products that may contain Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) after a risk assessment was conducted by the scientific advisory committee. By allowing the import of products that may contain genetically modified organism Mr. Chilufya feels government has let the people of Zambia down owing to the fact that it has been assuring citizenry that it would uphold the late President Levy Mwanawasa’s legacy of saying no to GMO. In 2002 the then President late Levy Patrick Mwanawasa described them [GMOs] as “poison” and refused to allow GMOs in the country. He ...

The Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI) has revealed that some farmers under the Direct Input Supply (DIS) were issued with expired maize seed during the distribution of farm inputs in the 2018-2019 farming season. IAPRI senior research associate Auckland Kuteya has also disclosed that a total of 371,616 farmers in 45 districts were covered under the conventional FISP while 650,818 farmers remained under the e-voucher. Speaking when he made a presentation at the Implementation Review meeting of the E-voucher and DIS during 2018/2019 farming season, Mr. Kuteya also noted that farmers were not given a choice to inputs as this was already pre-determined, which he says defeated the diversification agenda. He says diversification is stifled due to delivery of fertilizer and mainly maize seed. And Mr Kuteya has observed that late release of funds under E- Voucher prevented full participation of the private sector and delayed release of inputs. He has ...

Chililabombwe Patriotic Front Constituency Youth Chairman Samson Chisambo has warned that he will tolerate some people who are in a tendency of bringing confusion and promote hate speech through acts of malicious mentality in the party. Mr. Chisambo is concerned that there are some y oung people in the party who are being used to create confusion and promote hate speech through acts of malicious mentality. He has cited Ibrahim Kabwe Mwamba who he said claims to be a PF National youth executive committee member as one person who is been used to bring confusion in the party. Mr. Chisambo has reminded Mr. Mwamba to respect the Copperbelt Provincial Chairman Nathan Bwalya Chanda who he said is not at the same Latitude with him and therefore must act with Respect and Consideration. He says the damage and confusion is bringing in the party is regrettable and that it will not be tolerated saying he will be disciplined. Mr. Chisambo finds the letter written to the Co...