Maravi

(NYASATIMES) Malawi ruler blames opposition for maize shortage

Malawi ruler blames opposition for maize shortage
Alinafe Mtawanga 08 January, 2009 11:06:00

As Media reports in Malawi indicate acute food shortage, President Ngwazi Bingu wa Mutharika on Thursday January 8 maintained that the country has enough food and faulted the media and opposition for the reported hunger situation.

Mutharika was speaking in Balaka during his whistle stop tour: “The opposition is using media to cheat you that people are dying of hunger related illnesses, they came here in Balaka and took a picture of a poor old woman and claimed she was dying of hunger.”

This comes as there have been several stories covered in the media of acute hunger situation in Malawi.

As the President was speaking, The Daily Times which is deemed to be pro government had carried a story on its front of people who are exchanging bicycles for food items in the neighboring Mozambique. This story was also earlier posted on Nyasa Times.

On Tuesday the Daily Times reported a story which said people in Machinga are leaving on maize bran, locally known as ‘madeya’ and dried cassava (makaka).

The report said Malawians are buying these food items at a very high price in areas neighboring Mozambique.

“These newspapers are saying that you have all died of hunger, is this true?” asked Mutharika in Balaka. “Is this the first time you have depended on maize bran (madeya), did you not do that in Kamuzu and Muluzi era?” queried the President.

“We have a lot of maize but the opposition is sending boys to buy it away so that they fulfill their evil agenda," said the Ngwazi adding that, that is the reason the prize of maize has gone up.

He however said he knows that in some areas people do not have enough maize but said that was due to erratic rains.

Labels: HUNGER, MAIZE

posted by MrK @ 8:23 PM