CHIEF Naluwama of the Moomba Tonga people of Chikankata District of Southern Province says the dry spell has affected the germination of maize seeds and other crops in his Chiefdom.

Chief Naluwama notes that farmers will have another task of looking for seeds to replant when the normal rains come.

He states that his chiefdom has recorded a total crop failure germination which has given small scale farmers sleepless nights thinking where they will get the money to buy maize seeds.

The traditional leader was speaking in a telephone interview with ZANIS in Chikakanta District of the Southern Province.

The traditional leader, however, urged his subjects not to relent but continue praying for the rains.

Chief Naluwama said it is pointless to blame anyone for the dry spell, adding that the government had done all it can to give farming inputs to farmers on time.

The traditional leader also praised the government for the manner in which it had handled the hunger situation in his Chiefdom.