Maravi

Namakando complains over quantity of relief food

Namakando complains over quantity of relief food
Written by Mwala Kalaluka
Thursday, January 29, 2009 9:43:30 AM

WESTERN Province MMD chairperson Simasiku Namakando yesterday complained that the quantity of food that has been sent to hunger-stricken communities in the province is a mockery.

Namakando said in an interview from Lukulu West that any delay by the government to address the severe hunger situation in the Western Province would lead to loss of life. "If we do not act now, we might lose lives," Namakando said.

"The Office of the Vice-President sent some maize but it was not enough. For example, in an area which has 15,000 people they have only sent 70 bags and you can imagine that."

He said the people were now wondering why the government was not sending sufficient food to the area when they had done all they could to enable President Rupiah Banda emerge victorious in last year's presidential election.

"There is a critical problem of hunger here and the people are asking why they should be starved when they voted for this government?" he said. "The Vice-President should visit Western Province to see himself. There is no food in the fields and in the granaries because people lost their crops due to floods."

Namakando suggested that the government should, in the interim, disburse about 10,000 bags of maize to each of the 17 constituencies in the province if the problem is to be ameliorated.

Namakando said the districts that had been severely hit by hunger are Lukulu, Shang'ombo and Kalabo.

Labels: FOOD, MMD, SIMASIKU NAMAKANDO

posted by MrK @ 9:43 AM