Farmers pillars of our economy – M’membe
By Adrian Mwanza
FARMERS are the true producers of Zambia’s economy and politicians should therefore not take advantage of their struggles, Socialist Party (SP) president Dr Fred M’membe has said.
And Dr M’membe says Zambians are not lazy people.
Addressing the nation on his Facebook page, Dr M’membe said agriculture was the cornerstone of any economic development.
“For decades, politicians have told the hardworking farmers to be patient while waiting months or even years for FRA [Food Reserve Agency] payments. Meanwhile, politicians get their luxury SUVs on day one. This injustice ends now,” he said.
Dr M’membe said Zambians were hardworking people who understood the economy of the nation.
He said once he was voted into power next week, farmers would benefit greatly for producing.
“The exact second your maize touches the depot scale; your payment is automatically triggered via direct bank transfer or mobile money. No delays, no excuses. No politics,” he said.
And Dr M’membe says poverty levels in the country are life-threatening.
“Walk through any township, any compound, and you’ll see our youth. Idle, doing nothing. Not, because they are lazy. Some finished college, and still day after day, they wait. A whole generation full of energy and ideas told by this country to simply wait,” he said.
He said under his leadership there would be a change in the way things were done to accommodate innovation and job creation.
“It shouldn’t be this hard to be young and have somewhere to go in the morning. An idle young person is not a wasted young person. They are a promise this country refused to keep. Under, the Socialist Party, we guarantee real jobs, real training, and real opportunity in every town where you live,’ he said.
Dr M’membe said his government would not allow people to throw away education product.
“Because your energy should be building this nation, not fading at a corner. You are not the problem. You are the future this country keeps postponing,” he said.
