Mwense farmers lose Cassava in ZESCO floods

0
Cassava

Small Scale farmers in Mwense district have lost an estimated One thousand Five hundred by 50 Kilogramme bags of Cassava that were washed away following the sudden opening of ZESCO spill gates on Luongo River.

An assessment carried out by the ministry of Agriculture in the district reviewed that affected residents most of them depend on cassava as their staple food and a source of revenue.

And Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Borniface Chimbwali who visited the affected farmers assured them that government through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit -DMMU-will assess the impact and provide relief.

Mr. Chimbwali said it was negligent on the part of the contractor and

Musonda ZESCO management to open the spill gates without informing people down the river.

The incident happened on Wednesday after a Chinese contractor working on Musonda power station opened the spill gates.

The accident affected over 300 farmers who took advantage of the low water levels on the Luongo River to soak and dry their cassava on the rocks close to the river bed.

NO COMMENTS

LEAVE A REPLY