THERE IS NO CONTRADICTION BETWEEN PRESIDENT HICHILEMA AND FINANCE MINISTER ON PAYING FARMERS
UPND MEDIA TEAM STATEMENT
October,12-2026-We have received media queries from various media houses seeking clarification on the official statements made by the Minister of Finance in today’s News Diggers newspaper and President Hakainde Hichilema’s remarks during the official opening of the First Session of the Fourteenth National Assembly last Friday regarding the payment of farmers.
We wish to clarify that there is no contradiction between the President’s and the Minister’s statements. Both have affirmed the government’s commitment to paying farmers who supplied maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
The Minister of Finance’s remarks concern the need to increase funding by way making FRA more financially independent owing to their huge purchase of over 3million tons of maize beyond their target , while reducing dependence on central government funding , particularly in view of the need to align procurement targets with the national budget. His concerns relate to future financing requirements and should not be interpreted as failure by government to finance the FRA .
We are fully aware that if government does not support the FRA , it would be against the government’s ambition to increase maize production to 10 million metric tonnes under the Presidential blueprint.
Regarding the current season, the Minister has acknowledged that the FRA purchased white maize beyond its initial target. This is not unprecedented. In 2021, for example, the FRA purchased more than 534,000 metric tonnes of white maize against an initial target of 500,000 metric tonnes.
Similarly, following various government interventions aimed at strengthening national food security, the FRA initially targeted the purchase of just over 500,000 metric tonnes but has so far purchased more than three million metric tonnes of maize.
The Minister is therefore addressing the need to secure adequate funding for future FRA operations, taking into account the significantly higher volumes of maize purchased during the current season.
President Hichilema has also made it clear that all farmers who supplied maize will be paid.
During his address to the National Assembly last Friday, the President reiterated the country’s ambition to produce 10 million metric tonnes of maize under the Presidential blueprint. He further emphasised that storage and market access remain critical considerations as production increases.
The President has been pursuing market access opportunities through engagements and agreements with various countries, including Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, China, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi and the United Arab Emirates, among others.
The President has also reiterated his commitment to paying farmers during his engagements at Samu Lya Moomba and in the United Arab Emirates. The Minister of Finance has equally affirmed this commitment.
Furthermore, our guidance on official communication is that party members should not issue statements that contradict the President or duly authorised government office bearers on matters of government policy unless an official position has been communicated through the appropriate channels.
There has been no official announcement that the government will refuse to pay farmers who have already supplied maize. On the contrary, both the President and the Minister have affirmed the government’s commitment to meeting its obligations to farmers.
We had indicated that clarification would come from the relevant government institutions, including the FRA or other authorised government officials. The statement by Hon. Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane forms part of that clarification.
In conclusion, there is no contradiction between President Hichilema and the Minister of Finance. Both have reaffirmed the government’s commitment to paying farmers, while the Minister’s remarks address the financing of future FRA operations by making FRA more self -sustaining.
Mark Simuuwe
UPND MEDIA DIRECTOR