THE African Union Humanitarian Assessment Mission to Zambia (AUHAMZ) has donated about K5.4 million to the government towards the drought response in the country.
AUHAMZ team leader Churchill Ewumbue – Monono says the funds are part of the African Union’s act of solidarity to Zambia as it navigates the effects of the drought that the country is currently grappling with.
Mr Monono said this when he led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Robert Kamalata at his office today.
He disclosed that the team is in the country on a mission to assess the effects of the drought, its response effectiveness and coordination mechanisms and engagement with cooperating partners to address the situation.
“Most importantly, we want to get information on how people are coping and have factual data on the situation on the ground, so we will be visiting Rufunsa and Chongwe districts for this mission,” he said.
ZANIS reports that Mr Monono who is also Cameroonian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Permanent Representative to the AU and Vice Chairperson of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) Sub committee on refugees, returnees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) said Zambia is among the eighteen countries that was listed for the Humanitarian Assessment Mission in April this year.
He stated that Zambia has displayed a lot of resilience during the drought and Africa wants to stand in solidarity with the country which is known for its admirable humanitarian principles across Africa.
“Since the time of its founding father Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia’s principles of humanism are well known around Africa, so we want to share whatever we can and that is why we have given this small cheque,” he said.
Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Robert Kamalata said the presence of the team on the humanitarian mission is testament of the African spirit of Ubuntu.
Mr Kamalata said the government is grateful for the continued solidarity and acts of humanism shown by the AU and other partners since the onset of the drought.
He explained that all six districts in the province have been affected by the drought and presented several challenges for the people.
He stressed that despite the government instituting several interventions to mitigate the effects of the drought, the task is enormous and requires more resources and support.
“Some interventions that we have been implementing as a province include, relief maize distribution to vulnerable households, emergency cash transfers and facilitation of community maize sale points in locations closer to the most vulnerable.
Also provision of farming inputs for wetland cropping, sinking of boreholes for ease water access , promotion of irrigation initiatives and alternative livelihood sources, so that is why we appreciate every good gesture and support we can receive,” he said.
Mr Kamalata further explained to the team that the government is working with several cooperating partners and Non-governmental Organizations (NGO) within the districts to undertake various resilience building, adaptation, response and recovery initiatives.
Mr Kamalata said he is hopeful that the team will achieve its objectives for the mission and reiterated governments resolve to continue working with all partners.
