SMALL and Medium Enterprise Development Minister Elias Mubanga says since the UPND came into office, over a billion in empowerment loans has been given to SMEs and cooperatives. And Mubanga argues that government sold the maize from the reserves in order to pay off farmers. Speaking on Diamond TV, Sunday, Mubanga said government was giving loans to beneficiaries at lower interest rates. “I wouldn’t be very specific but together we have over 100,000 cooperatives across the country. We have given out a number of empowerments to cooperatives and there are actually loans for now under CEEC. We haven’t started with grants. Capacity building is also an empowerment through skills. We’re not selective when giving loans. If there are officers in...