Omnia replaces ‘stolen’ fertilizer

Omnia replaces ‘stolen’ fertilizer

Chadiza, Feb 18/13, ZANIS……Omnia Zambia has replaced about 1,723 bags of fertilizer that was purportedly stolen by its staff at Chadiza Deport.

And Eastern Region Omnia Manager, Zifa Ngoma, has disclosed that his organization successfully completed the 2012/2013 farming season fertilizer distribution exercise last Tuesday.

Mr Ngoma told ZANIS in Chadiza that all cooperatives had received the allocated bags of fertilizer and that the bags that were reported missing from some cooperatives have been replaced by his firm to avoid inconveniencing innocent farmers.

He said although the bags were replaced, investigations to establish the whereabouts of the 1,298 x 50 kg bags of Urea and 425 x 50 kg bags of D-Compound were still underway.

The Regional Manager expressed sadness at the bad habit by individuals and cooperative leaders who were entrusted with the task of distributing the fertilizer for diverting the commodity at the expense of the peasant farmers.

Mr Ngoma described the development as bad especially that the image of Omnia as a company was being dented by the people that were entrusted with the responsibility of taking care of the firm’s property.

Mr Ngoma, who could not easily predict how early and best the 2013 fertilizer distribution exercise would be carried out, suggested that the same vehicles that would mop up maize from satellite depots must also delivered the fertilizer to the same points as the trucks would go to the same depots empty.

He said the work of distributing fertilizer could be done better when there was less pressure from both the government and farmers and roads were still free from the erosion caused by the rains.

Meanwhile, three people accused of stealing 1,723 bag of fertilizer at the Omnia deport in Chadiza District have appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Before resident magistrate Fabian Likulunga were Markson Phiri (34) Stores man at Omnia shed, Grand Chinfwembe (38) Assistant Stores man and Israel Mwanza (21) an inspector at the Audit Control Expertise who have been charged with theft contrary to Section 272 Cap 87 of the Law of Zambia.

The three are suspected to have stolen 1,723 by 50 Kg bags of fertilizer under the fertilizer support programme valued at KR366, 999.

The trio have however, pleaded not guilty to the charge forcing the resident magistrate to set February 27 as the date for trial.