MP Wakuda diverts constituency fund to farm inputs

An innovative legislator has diverted K7 million from Constituency Development Fund to buy farm inputs for 1,000 women in his constituency, a departure from infrastructure development the fund is traditionally used for.

Kasungu north east MP Wakuda Kamanga (People’s Party) said the programme, he has dubed ‘Nzotheka’ will increase food productivity in his area thereby ensuring plateful of food on tables next year.

“There cannot be meaningful infrastructural development if people are hungry. They need to have food first if they are to participate in development activities,” said Kamanga during the launch of the programme over the weekend.

The women are receiving maize seeds, legumes and a bag of fertilizer each.

Kamanga’s programme comes at a time when the government sponsored programme is dogged with problems as in most areas in the south, subsistence farmers have not received NPK ferilizer as some suppliers are demanding instant payment from the cash-strapped government.

It has also been observed that the beneficiaries of the farm inputs are not only the poor of the poorest as has been the case but included civil servants and some well to do people.

Kamanga said he hoped with his farm input programme, people will fully participate in infrastructural development fully. The programme has been hailed by traditional leaders in the area.