(LUSAKATIMES) Chief calls for more food

Chief calls for more food
October 21, 2008

Two chiefs in Chadiza District have appealed to government for relief food to help cushion hunger in their chiefdoms. Chief Zingalume and Chief Mlolo of the Chewa people told ZANIS in a joint interview that the hunger situation in their respective areas was worrying and needed government’s urgent attention.

The chiefs said if not addressed soon, the situation will deteriorate further because most people will not have enough energy to prepare their fields for this farming season.

They said the 100 metric tones of relief maize which government gave the district two months ago did little to arrest starvation as most households were left out.

The traditional rulers said conditions attached to relief maize distribution which only targeted the aged, orphaned, disabled, and the chronically sick was discriminatory as hunger was a cross-cutting problem in their chiefdoms.

They said although the categorised group was most affected, it was important for government to appreciate that every family in their areas needed to benefit from relief maize.

They disclosed that some families that were fortunate had to walk long distances to the Boma in order to pick maize residual from hammer mills.

They said whoever will become president after the 30th October presidential poll should seriously consider the appeal for relief food as a matter of urgency as the situation was very worrying.

Meanwhile the two chiefs said they will not declare support for any presidential candidate because their role was to run the affairs of their chiefdoms.

They said they will maintain a neutral stance and leave the political arena to politicians.

ZANIS/HH/EML/MK/ENDS