Kawana urges accelerated progress at Kalimbeza Rice Project

Isize – Former justice minister Albert Kawana has called on the government to accelerate progress at the State-run Kalimbeza Rice Project in the Zambezi region.

Speaking to New Era on the sidelines during a National Council parliamentary outreach programme in the region this week, Kawana expressed concern over what he calls the project’s slow progress.

Kalimbeza Rice Project has recently resumed operations following a period of dormancy, with the government injecting N$8 million to revive production and support a feasibility study.

The project has reportedly harvested between 70 and 77 tonnes of rice from its recent production, with approximately 60% of the harvest supplied to local retailers while the remainder is processed into by-products.

However, Kawana said the project required greater attention to ensure it fulfilled its intended role in supporting rural livelihoods and economic development in the region.

He stressed that agricultural projects such as Kalimbeza were important in strengthening rural economies, where communities depend largely on crop production and livestock farming for income.

Kawana also highlighted challenges facing cattle farmers in the region, particularly the lack of reliable market access following the withdrawal of Meatco and the subsequent failure of Zamco to provide an effective alternative.

He appealed to the government to consider reinstating Meatco’s operations in the region, saying livestock remained an important source of income for rural households.

“For a peasant, cattle is like a town dweller’s bank account. Their bank account is cattle. But if they cannot sell the cattle, then it becomes really a very big problem,” he said.

Kawana requests that government responds to the concerns of Zambezi residents, saying improved agricultural production and livestock marketing were essential to rural economic development.

“Please, can you send back Meatco to take over so that this issue can be resolved?” he said.

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