The United Party for National Development (UPND) youths in North Western Province have called on officers in the Ministry of Agriculture, tasked with the responsibility of distributing farm inputs to farmers in the region to be transparent.
UPND Provincial Youth Chairman Bruce Kanema states that the interest of the ruling party is to see to it that the inputs reaches the intended beneficiaries.
Mr. Kanema said the program which is being implemented at a high cost is purely meant to benefit farmers hence the need for transparency.
“Our interest is the farmers because these are the people that voted for the UPND for it to form government. So, we want transparency in the manner the inputs are being distributed,” said Mr. Kanema.
The UPND youth leader was speaking when he held a meeting with the Provincial Agricultural Coordinator (PACo) Miyobo Shimabale after two people where arrested in Kasempa for being in possession of about 117×50 kilograms of fertiliser.
Mr. Kanema stated that as youths in the province, they will not leave any stone unturned but ensure that the inputs go to intended beneficiaries.
“Because I know that among the officers there are bad eggs with personal interest to divert the inputs,” he said.
He however mentioned that his office will not interfere in any way but just ensure that the inputs go to intended beneficiaries.
And in response, Mr. Shimabale assured Mr. Kanema that his office will ensure that the inputs go to intended beneficiaries.
Mr. Shimabale said the exercise has well stipulated guidelines and he will ensure that officers follow them.
He however acknowledged the need to screen some of the beneficiaries in order to avoid lapses.
He said what transpired in Kasempa was unfortunate and that the law should take its course and bring the culprits to book.
