Mambwe DC bemoans lack of storage facility

Mambwe DC bemoans lack of storage facility

Chipata, May 22, ZANIS ——- Mambwe District Commissioner Janet Palukani has expressed concern over the failure by Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to provide storage sheds for the maize produced in the district during the last farming season.

Mrs Palukani says it is sad that the little maize that the district has produced may go to waste due to lack of proper storage facilities.

Mrs Palukani was speaking in Mambwe yesterday, when Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Bert Mushala visited the abandoned FRA slab which was under construction.

The District Commissioner disclosed that last year the district had to rely on the council building to store the maize.

She noted that the situation is likely to be worse this year as the council will not be willing to offer its facilities even this year.

Mrs Palukani said Chabris contractors the contractor of the storage slab which was under construction had abandoned the works but had since been taken to court.

She explained that the works which started in 2010 at undisclosed sum of money was expected to finish within the same year.

She added that with the opening of the marketing season in few weeks time, the situation will make it difficult for farmers to supply the maize.

“Here in Mambwe we don’t have a shed this was the only facility we had relied on, so we have no idea where our market will be now,” she said.

Mrs Palukani said the situation would impact negatively on the storage of the maize that has been produced in the district.

And Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Bert Mushala assured the District Commissioner that his office will take up the matter with relevant authorities and follow it as soon as the court process is complete.

Mr Mushala said it is sad that government resources should be wasted in such a manner hence denying the people development.

He noted that with the opening of the marketing season it is the produce of the poor farmers that would go to waste due to lack of proper storage facilities.

Mr Mushala stated that the construction of the slab would have gone a long way in enhancing storage facilities in the district.

He further appealed to the District Commissioner and FRA officials in the district to quickly find an alternative place where maize will be stored.

“This is really sad, wasting government funds and denying people development that they need,” he said.