Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) Chama North Member of Parliament, Davison Mung’andu has welcomed the declaration of the current prolonged period of dry spells being experienced in some parts of the country as a national disaster and emergency.
In an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka, Mr. Mung’andu commended President Hakainde Hichilema for the decision taken to declare the dry spells being experienced in some parts of the country as a national disaster and emergency.
Mr. Mung’andu says the decision is in the interest of the Zambian citizens, saying the move will enable the government to get assistance from both local and the international community and ensure that no one dies from hunger.
He has since called on all well-meaning Zambians to support President Hichilema and his Government in finding solutions to the drought that has affected some most parts of the country.
“This is good for all of us as the move will enable the government to mobilise resources both local and from the international community to mitigate the current situation,” said Mr. Mung’andu.
Mr. Mung’andu said the declaration of the drought situation as a national disaster and emergency should not be politicised but that both the opposition and the Government should work together in finding solutions to mitigate the situation.
“We need to support the President and his administration for the measures taken to mitigate the looming hunger situation,” said Mr. Mung’andu.
Meanwhile, Chief Chitimbwa the 11th of the Lungu people of Mpulungu in Northern Province has also welcomed the declaration of the drought being experienced in some parts of the country as a national disaster and emergency.
In an interview, Chief Chitimbwa says though his chiefdom and other parts of the country are not affected by the prolonged dry spell, the situation is very bad and the people in the affected areas are in dire need of assistance.
He says there is need for the government to devise measures that will support the growing of various crops in regions that have favourable weather patterns and good soils like Northern and Muchinga Provinces.
The traditional leader has also called for the upscaling of cultivation of irrigated maize saying with systems in place, commercial farmers and other institutions like the Zambia National Service (ZNS) could be assisted to engage in irrigated maize production.
“As at now, let us concentrate on areas that are prone to receiving enough rainfall and give them support in terms of farming inputs and other incentives to promote production of maize at large scale,” said Chief Chitimbwa.
He adds, “We should equally put up enough places where we can harvest enough water like in my chiefdom where we’re blessed with enough rains.”
He says that there is need to create enough farming blocks especially in areas of Northern and Muchinga Provinces.
He charged that the president needed to have the right and skilled people to advise him in the farming sector.
“If there is a chief who is ready to work with the government towards the production and promotion of both household and national food security, am one of them and on this one, am very serious.
Yesterday, President Hichilema declared the prolonged dry spells in the country as a National Disaster and Emergency.
The Head of State said the declaration is in accordance with the disaster management act number 13 of 2010 supported by other relevant legislations.
The destruction caused by the prolonged dry spell has severely affected 84 districts in Lusaka, Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, North-western, Western, and Southern Provinces.
