•The solar-powered grinding mills are an initiative of empowering cooperative societies countrywide.

By PETER NKHOMA –

THE Government, through the Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF), will give solar-powered grinding mills to 17 approved cooperative societies in Katete District in Eastern Province.
ZCF director-general James Chirwa said that the handover of the grinding mills is aimed at reducing mealie-meal prices.
Mr Chirwa said the grinding mills were an initiative of empowering cooperative societies countrywide and would create employment as well as alleviate poverty.
He urged cooperative members to continue growing enough maize to facilitate the grinding of mealie-meal for sale and at the same time create a market for other farmers to sell their maize after harvest.
Mr Chirwa further said it was a countrywide programme of providing solar-powered grinding mills to districts where maize was being produced.
He said the programme was put in place to help reduce the amount of money allocated to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) for maize purchasing.
“As a result of this empowerment, Government will be able to save some money for other development activities like construction of roads, hospitals, schools and other infrastructure,’’ Mr Chirwa said.
He also said the distribution of the grinding mills would go along with the sinking of boreholes where the installation of milling plants would be done.
Mr Chirwa said people would have access to clean drinking water, carry out the irrigation system, construct fish ponds and embark on livestock rearing as income generating ventures.
He appealed to the beneficiaries to protect and take care of the equipment that would be supplied to the cooperative societies.
Katete District Commissioner Joseph Makukula advised the beneficiaries to be committed to the implementation of the initiative as it was an important programme.
Mr Makukula said the Government had given cooperatives an opportunity to improve and provide services as well as generate income in order to better the lives of the people.
He urged cooperatives to appreciate Government programmes which were taking place in various areas of the country and urged them to implement them accordingly.
Eight more groups are yet to be approved to access the same equipment as the district’s target is to receive 25 grinding mills in total. -NAIS