Government through Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has sent 150 metric tonnes of maize to Zimba District Southern Province.

Mapatizya Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Emelda Nkhata said the maize is meant to cushion the hunger situation in the district and will be delivered to all satellite depots.

Mrs Nkhata disclosed this over the weekend when she toured Chalimongela, Chidi and Zimba Wards in her constituency.

ZANIS reports and Mrs Nkhata has revealed that 1000 x 25-kilogram bags of Eagle mealie meal will also be made available at K230 price.

She said the office of the District Commissioner facilitated the FRA community sales and Zambia National Service to start supplying cheaper mealie meal.

The MP said the goal is to enable the citizens to buy affordable mealie meal in the district.

Mrs Nkhata said this strategic distribution of the staple food will be on a weekly basis in all community satellite depots.

She said the initiative responds to the anticipated famine resulting from the prolonged dry spell which severely impacted crop yields in the district and prompted President Hakainde Hichilema to declare a national disaster.

“We have a responsive government and my office advocated for local sales of both maize and mealie meal to alleviate the challenges faced by our people who would otherwise need to travel long distances,” she stated.

Mrs Nkhata expressed optimism that maize and mealie-meal would not be resold by unscrupulous people.