KALOMO IN FISP SCAM

By Martin Mashekwa

LAW enforcement wings in Kalomo have instituted investigations over the alleged agro inputs scam under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) in some agriculture camps of the district.

This follows several complaints from farmers lodged to the district administration alleging that real farmer beneficiaries had been left out and replaced by new cooperative members contrary to the new FISP guidelines.

Kalomo District Commissioner, Joshua Sikaduli, confirmed the development to ZANIS but could not shed more light over the matter for fear of jeopardizing the on-going investigations.

Mr. Sikaduli however, pointed out that there were several farmer complaints in Kasukwe and Dimbwe agriculture camps and that police had since detained and interrogated a named camp officer over the suspected agro inputs scam.

Some affected farmers who are appearing on the beneficiary list when interviewed claimed that camp officers, working with their respective Camp Agriculture Committees (CACs), replaced their names and tagged new ones, with some belonging to newly formed cooperative societies, the development which was against the FISP guidelines.

“I can confirm that one officer is helping police with investigations over this tagging issue but we have to wait for the team to conclude its investigations so that we can give a comprehensive report over the matter,” Mr. Sikaduli said.

Meanwhile, the District Commissioner said this year’s FISP input collection exercise was marred with several complaints from farmers compared to the last farming season adding that his office was still receiving such issues.

The district has already received its share of FISP allocation to benefit 31,000 farmers with the collection of inputs still in progress.