Sinazongwe hunger could worsen - chief Mweemba

Sinazongwe hunger could worsen - chief Mweemba
By Tovin Ngombe in Sinazongwe
Thursday August 30, 2007 [04:00]

SENIOR chief Mweemba of the Tonga people in Southern Province has said the hunger situation in Sinazongwe District could worsen next month if the government does not send relief food. Chief Mweemba, who was represented by Richwell Ntundulu, said the hunger situation in his area had badly affected the people due to the poor rainfall experienced in the last farming season. Chief Mweemba said the government should urgently send relief food to help the villagers.

“The situation is pathetic, it is a dry season and there are no fruits that people can pick up to eat. My people are not being cared for. Even the local investors are doing nothing to assist them,” he said.

Chief Mweemba said Kafwambila, Siampondo, Muuka, Denganza, and Kanchindu were the most affected areas. Chief Mweemba said people living in Siameja had no land to cultivate on because the area was too rocky.

The number of people requiring relief food in Sinazongwe District has doubled as compared to last year’s estimates by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU). Sinazongwe District commissioner Laiven Apuleni said in March that the number of people in need of relief food had risen from 5,241 to 10,656.