A group of elderly farmers from the Judea Lyaboloma Constituency have taken to the streets of Katima Mulilo, demanding overdue payments for maize sold to a local miller years ago.
The farmers from Malengalenga and Mazinyara handed a petition to the governor, demanding payment from Agrillmill in the Machita area after they allegedly sold their maize grain in 2021 without ever receiving payment from the company.
“We need our money within two working days, if our money is not paid out, we will be based and stay in the Machita area until such time we are paid our money. Enough is enough.”
They say efforts to get their money have been unsuccessful.
“They were saying that the money was stolen by the managers, but all of them denied doing so and said if they had stolen the money, they would be in jail now. We are given excuses all the time. They keep telling us they will pay and that they are just looking for projects to make money that they will pay us with. They also tell us that when all their maize meal is sold, they will pay us. But we see a lot of their maize meal in the shops, and it is being cleared off the shelves by buyers, but regardless of that, we still haven’t been paid.”
“We never got our money, that is why we have been suffering like this. Look at how I’m too old, do I look like I’m still able to do anything now? With the money we never received, I am no longer able to do field work, we are now just suffering, and that is why we came here, perhaps we could find help with getting our money. We are not here to play, we are in a dilemma right now.”
They said that they will continue to camp outside the company until their funds are paid, including 5% interest.
The governor, Lawrence Sampofu, received the petition.
“But for the time being, Machita Agrimill should come and talk to you and discuss with you, 2021 is just too long, and they should make means to pay for the maize that they took from our poor farmers.”
Reached for a comment, the company’s director, Bernard Mbeha, maintained that at the time of the purchase of the maize from farmers, a certain company manager misused the funds and was eventually fired.
He said, however, that arrangements are being made to pay the farmers.
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