SHOCKER: 188 ALIENS ACCESS FISP

A TOTAL of 188 non-Zambians in Kapiri Mposhi got Electronic Voucher cards and were included among beneficiaries of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) during the 2017/2018 farming season, thereby defrauding Government of over K376, 000, the Auditor General’s report has revealed. But Kapiri Mposhi District Commissioner Peter Mwiinde dismissed the Auditor General’s report saying it was not possible for Government to give inputs to foreigners when Zambians who were not eligible never benefitted from the same. According to the 2017 Auditor General’s report, 188 foreigners were included as beneficiaries in the FISP programme for the 2017/2018 season and had their E-voucher cards loaded with a total amount of K376, 000. “During the 2017/2018 farming season, one hundred and eighty eight (188) farmers from Kapiri Mposhi who had their E-voucher cards loaded with a total amount of K376, 000 were non Zambian nationals,” reads the report in part. The report also shows that countrywide, a total of 4,633 farmers among those who had made contributions towards the FISP programme to receive inputs never appeared on the list of approved beneficiaries “A comparison of the list of depositors on ZIAMIS to the list of approved beneficiaries revealed that four thousand, six hundred and thirty three (4,633) farmers who made contributions in amounts totaling K2, 455, 732, were not appearing on the list of approved beneficiaries. “It was also observed that two thousand and seventy two (2,072) farmers who had paid farmers’ contributions in amounts totaling K828, 800 were not appearing on the approved list of farmers and their cards were not loaded with farmers’ contributions,” reads the report. But when contacted for a comment, Mr. Mwiinde said the system that Government was using to give inputs to farmers was not porous and therefore could not accommodate foreigners and that such an alarming statement could not be true, but referred further queries to those in charge of FISP. “The FISP programme is aimed at making small-scale farmers viable and not everyone can benefit. If some farmers within Zambian do not benefit from the programme because of the yardstick Government has set on who should access these inputs, how can a foreigner sneak into this country and become a beneficiary? “At first glance, this statement is alarming and not true. I have not yet seen the Auditor General’s report but all I can say is that it is not possible that people from other countries can come here and benefit from our Government programme. Government is doing a commendable job in building capacity among farmers and must be supported. However, the people in charge of the E-voucher would be in the best position to explain this matter,” he said.

The FISP programme is aimed at making small scale farmers viable and not everyone can benefit. If some farmers within Zambian do not benefit from the programme because of the yardstick Government has set on who should access these inputs, how can a foreigner sneak into this country and become a beneficiary? — Auditor General’s report .