Mambwe District Administrative Officer, Weston Phiri says two thousand bags of relief maize have been distributed to five wards in Mambwe District, Eastern Province. 

Mr Phiri said the relief food was distributed to vulnerable households saying each identified household received a 50 kilograms

He said the wards which have benefited from the relied aid include Chisengu, Chipako, Ncheka,Chipapa and Kakumbi.

Meanwhile, Mr Phiri has appealed to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other charitable organisations to come on board and supplement government’s efforts in rendering assistance to vulnerable communities affected by the drought. 

Mr Phiri has also thanked Plan International Zambia for coming on board to sensitise satellite committees on the selection of beneficiaries. 

He said many community members had lodged complaints regarding the purported segregation in the selection of beneficiaries to access relief maize hence the need for sensitisation.

“We have been receiving reports from community members regarding segregation in the selection of beneficiaries by satellite committees in some wards where some households were being left out due to petty issues. Therefore, the initiative by Plan International Zambia to conduct sensitisation meetings with them is much appreciated,” he said. 

Mr Phiri said he hoped to see a change in how satellite committees will be selecting beneficiaries as the issue needs to be handled with utmost impartiality.