9.8 million people across the country have been affected by the drought resulting from the long dry spell this agriculture season.
Vice President Mutale Nalumango says 6.6 million people may need some form of relief.
ZANIS reports that Mrs Nalumanga said this when she paid a courtesy call on Chief Mumba of the Kaonde people of Mumbwa District at Maimwene resettlement scheme that the drought has affected more than half of the country’s population.
Mrs Nalumango stated that very few people in the country could claim to be food secure as the drought has affected many people.
“Government has a huge burden to ensure that no one dies due to hunger.” She said,
Mrs Nalumango observed that some of the affected families are vulnerable and are already on Social Cash Transfer (SCT) scheme while others have been made vulnerable by the drought.
And Mrs Nalumango noted that the cost implication and limited power supply may not support irrigation this year.
“Irrigation may be difficult for now due to affordability, some people can afford it but also power is a challenge, despite this some streams have dried up,” she stated.
She however stressed that it would be a priority in the next rainy season.
Meanwhile, Mrs Nalumango had directed the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to supply maize in all the deports in all the districts of the country to enable citizens purchase the staple food at a cheaper cost of K330 per 50 Kilogram bag.
Mrs Nalumango said it is the intention of the Government to ensure that citizens have a steady supply of the staple food.
She has also warned people re-selling Kalonga and Eagles mealie meal by the Zambia Correctional Services (ZCS) and the Zambia National Services (ZNS) respectively that they risk being arrested.
Mrs Nalumango noted that the government facilitated the production of the cheaper mealie meal to supply to all citizens and that no one should be allowed to buy it for resell.
“Let me state that whoever buys the mealie meal is on his own. It doesn’t matter if he is a Permanent Secretary or District Commissioner or anyone else.” She stated.
And chief Mumba said 281 villages in his chiefdom have been affected by hunger and need relief following the drought.
He appealed to the government to provide relief to those who are affected by the hunger situation.
The traditional leader said also commended the government for starting the construction of palaces for chiefs across the country.
