Government asks rural councils to assist in grain movement

The programme was insti­tuted fol­lowing a realisation that most districts were grappling with severe grain deficit as a result of the poor har­vest recorded in the 2011/2012 sum­mer season.
Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo, who chairs the Cabinet Inter Ministerial taskforce on Grain Pro­curement and Distribution, assured the nation of adequate food relief.

The programme, that is targeted at the needy communal, resettled and small-scale commercial farming households, will feed the elderly, child-headed homes and households headed by people with disabilities.
Minister Chombo said households with financial means can directly buy maize from the GMB.

“I, therefore, encourage all house­holds with insufficient maize stocks to register their requirements through their traditional leaders, councillors and district administrators,” he said.
In the wide-ranging address, Minis­ter Chombo touched on the sudden interest by qualified personnel to fill job vacancies in rural district coun­cils.

He said the councils were now able to attract qualified personnel because of the high salaries and attractive packages on offer.
Only 16 percent of executive posts in councils are not filled as compared to 56 percent at the beginning of 2009.
Minister Chombo said the recently reconstituted Local Government Board was making good progress in staff recruitment.

The board is man­dated to hire and fire senior officials.
“I am happy to report that the min­istry has registered massive progress regarding filling up of vacant posts in rural district councils in the last two years,” said Minister Chombo.