PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has apologised to farmers for delays in payments for maize delivered to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), saying the setback was a result of higher than expected purchases and slow digital payment systems.
On Tuesday, Chief Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa assured farmers that FRA payments are expected to be concluded by Saturday and that the delays were caused by challenges related to mobile money services and other digital payment platforms.
Addressing a rally in Choma yesterday, President Hichilema said the government had initially budgeted to purchase 500,000 tonnes of maize but ended up buying about 1.6 million tonnes in order to protect farmers from exploitation by private buyers.
“Farmers who have not been paid yet, that is a decision I made. We had only budgeted for 500 [thousand], but we ended up buying 1.6 million tonnes,” President Hichilema said.
He said government deliberately exceeded its target to ensure farmers had a ready market and were not forced to sell their produce at low prices.
“We did not want you to have no market for your produce, and we did not want people to give you lower prices. Now we have balanced our numbers well and farmers will be paid very soon. Some are already getting paid right now as we speak,” he said.
“We are working on this issue and we apologise that you were delayed. If I have done something wrong, I accept and I apologise for that. Why should I lie to you? I am a truthful individual,” he said.
He attributed part of the delay to slow banking and digital payment services, stressing that government was working to improve the system going forward.
The President said government was also exploring export opportunities, including sending mealie meal to Angola, as part of efforts to stabilise the maize market and support farmers.
He urged the farmers and citizens at large to continue supporting the UPND, describing the 2026 general election as critical to sustaining government’s development agenda.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, January 7, 2026
