Agriculture Minister Reuben Mtolo has assured farmers in Muchinga Province who supplied maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) that government has released K37 million towards clearing their payments.
Speaking when he toured the FRA main depot in Nakonde today, the minister said government remains committed to paying farmers promptly and supporting them to prepare adequately for the next farming season.
“I want to assure our hardworking farmers here in Muchinga Province that you will be paid for the maize you supplied. Government has already released K37 million towards farmer payments in this province, and we are working hard to ensure the process is concluded swiftly,” Mr. Mtolo said.
He urged farmers to exercise patience as government finalises the disbursement process, stressing that their contribution to food security and the national grain reserves is highly valued.
“Farmers are at the centre of our agricultural transformation. We deeply appreciate your efforts, and that is why government is prioritising these payments to give you the confidence and capacity to continue producing,” the minister added.
Farmers in Nakonde expressed gratitude for the assurance, noting that the release of funds would help them plan effectively for the coming season.
The minister’s tour of Muchinga Province has included inspections of FRA depots and agricultural facilities as part of government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the sector and safeguard food security.
The Minister was speaking as the Guest of Honour at the annual Chambo Chalutanga traditional ceremony of the Fungwe-speaking people under His Royal Highness Chief Mwenechifungwe in Mafinga District.
The Minister described traditional ceremonies as the “filament through which culture is transferred from one generation to the next.”
“In this dynamic and fast-changing world, where values and beliefs are often swayed by external influences, there is a critical need to document, inventory, and safeguard our rites, songs, dances, cuisine, and all that defines our culture for posterity,” the Minister stated.
He urged citizens not to be afraid of their identity but to leverage Zambia’s unique cultural diversity for the greater good and development of the nation.
The Minister detailed significant government investments in the chiefdom, particularly through the increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which has risen from K30.6 million to K36.1 million, and government has further proposed to increase to 40 million in 2026.
“This increased CDF has facilitated the construction of several classroom blocks and provided sponsorships for numerous pupils under the secondary school bursary scheme in your chiefdom,” he announced. He added that a government directive ensures no child sits on the floor, with CDF being used to provide sufficient desks.
In the health sector, the Minister revealed that the chiefdom now houses one of only two modern hospitals in Mafinga District, equipped with a mini-surgery department. This has eliminated the need for residents to travel to Isoka or Malawi for medical care. The area has also benefited from the over 11,000 health workers recently employed by the government.
A major announcement came in the road sector, with the Minister declaring that the long-awaited Isoka-Muyombe road will see work commence this year.
“Tarring will extend from the current end of the tarmac up to Muyombe,” he said, a development expected to boost accessibility and reduce the cost of doing business. He also noted the construction of feeder roads, crossing points, and the first-ever street lights in Mafinga through CDF.
The Minister concluded by calling on Chief Mwenechifungwe and his subjects to support the government’s poverty alleviation efforts, monitor CDF projects for quality, and work towards achieving household and national
