JOIN DRIVERN TAXI AS PARTNER DRIVER TODAY!
Explain subsidy removal-PS tells workers
Chipata, June 10, 2013, ZANIS…Eastern province permanent secretary
Bert Mushala has advised civil servants to explain the removal of
subsidies on fuel and maize to people in the province.
Speaking during a provincial monthly meeting Mr Mushala said there was
need to make people understand the importance and benefits of the
removal of subsidies.
He explained that the subsidies previously benefitted big business
entities such as the millers and the mines and not the poor who were
in need of them.
Mr Mushala said that though the subsidies were intended to benefit the poor
such incentives however did not trickle down to the poor.
Mr Mushala explained that the millers maintained high prices even
after being subsidized adding that most people in the province did not
buy mealie meal as they depended on grinding mills.
He stated that with the removal of subsidies, resources could be
diverted to needy sectors such as education and health.
The permanent secretary also observed that the Farmer Input Support
Programme (FISP) was intended to help small scale farmers for only three years
after which they should be able to support themselves.
Mr Mushala noted that it was sad that the farmers who were supposed to
graduate from the programme had continued to receive the subsidies
even after the three years had expired.
Mr Mushala also stated that civil servants who were not intended to
benefit from the programme accessed the inputs under the FISP.
“It is for this reason that government decided to remove the
subsidies, the move will see development in infrastructure, schools,
health and other critical areas that can help enhance development in
the country,” he said.
