Laziness is a poverty threat to Zululand society

‘ABOUT 60% of South African citizens live in abject poverty and generally have no food to eat.

‘While these shocking figures remain a worrying factor, the onus is us to push back the frontiers of poverty using the available land at our disposal.’

This was the picture painted by Sipho Shandu, Deputy Director for KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in uMhlathuze/uMfolozi Region.

He was speaking at the Farmers’ Day event held at Obizo Tribal Authority last week, where he challenged local farmers to do everything in their power to reduce the poverty line.

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‘During the recent Operation Sukuma Sakhe Cabinet Day, we were shocked to hear some community members unashamedly saying they go to bed on empty stomachs.

‘What disturbed me was to see able people who are blessed with two hands and two legs, complaining to government. I fail to understand why can’t we use the land we have for agricultural purposes.

‘We need to root out this culture of laziness within our communities, and stop depending on the government social grants for survival,’ he said.

Shandu’s sentiments were echoed by Senior Agricultural Scientist Hlengiwe Ngubane, who called for Africans to go back to traditional food and utilise their locally grown and available traditional food to ensure household food security.

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‘The reality is that the food we eat today does not add value to our human bodies and is not healthy, that’s why we keep flocking to local clinics and hospitals. We need to correct our mindset and go back to our roots as Africans.

‘We have our own food that identifies who we are, food such as izindlubu, amadumbe, ubhatata, isinkwa somcako, ummbila, ujeqe, isithwalaphishi, izinkobe, imifino and many others.

‘We have neglected our traditional food which has no manure, no chemicals but contains all the vitamins that our bodies need and ensures longevity.’

In his response, the head of Obizo Traditional Authority iNkosi Nsikayezwe Cebekhulu appealed to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to assist his people to kick start agricultural projects in the area.

‘We do have the land and we are a society that is willing to work to breakdown the chains of poverty, but we need government’s assistance in this regard,’ he said.

The display of various craft work and traditional food by local farmers was also the highlight of the event which was also attended by different government departments including representatives from King Cetshwayo District Municipality Arts and Culture Office.