No one will die of hunger— Vice-President
By Grace Kapatuka, Mana:
Vice-President Everton Chimulirenji has said the government would ensure that no one dies of hunger in the country.
Chimulirenji, who is also Disaster Management Affairs Minister, made the remarks on Saturday at Matchereza School Ground in Traditional Authority Tsikulamowa in Ntcheu District where he visited people who were affected by floods in March this year.
During the visit, Chimulirenji donated 700 bags of maize to the affected families who are at risk of hunger.
“As a minister responsible, I am aware that some people in the country are facing hunger. This is a worrisome development, but as the government, we are doing all we can to make sure that we support the affected families. We will make sure that all the affected people are supported. We are also asking well-wishers to assist us in this initiative,” Chimulirenji said.
He also assured people in the country of continued support towards alleviation of hunger.
“It is a sad development to see people being affected by disasters every year. It becomes worrisome to see some people constructing houses along river banks when they know very well that they are flood-prone areas. Let us move to safer places so that we save lives and property,” Chimulirenji said.
Secretary and Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs, Wilson Moleni, said the March 2019 floods left 60 people dead, 600 injured and 87,000 displaced.
The floods affected 5,500 people in Ntcheu where four died.
Speaking on behalf of the affected families, Filimasi Mikeyasi thanked the government for responding to their needs.
Last week, the government released a report that over one million people need food relief as they will not meet their annual food requirement during the 2019/2020 consumption period.
The government indicates that it needs 33,810 metric tonnes of maize valued at K6.76 billion and vegetable oil pegged at K2.24 billion to support vulnerable people.
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