Mapatizya MP lauds govt for distributing relief maize to Zimba district

Mapatizya Member of Parliament Clive Miyanda has commended government for giving Zimba district 50 (fifty) metric tonnes of relief maize.

However Miyanda has advised government to also consider giving the people of Zimba maize for sale for households that can afford.

He advised the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) not to offload the 35000 by 50kg bags stored at Siamafumba FRA depot but instead sell it to the people whom he said have no food but can afford to buy at a price.

Mr. Miyanda said in interview today that it would be costly for FRA to bring maize from another district when the same commodity at Siamafumba has not yet been off-loaded.

He added that selling the maize at Siamafumba depot to the residents in the district will even be more cost effective for government rather than bringing the commodity from outside the district.

Meanwhile the office of the district commissioner says it will consider applying for food for sale in the district to help the people of Zimba

Zimba District Commissioner Elizabeth Kalaluka says government is committed in ensuring that its people do not die of hunger by giving them relief food.

She said if the relief maize is not enough to carter the affected areas then food for sale will also be an alternative.

Kalaluka confirmed that Zimba has an allocation of 50 metric tonnes of relief maize and that her office has since advertised for a transporter for distribution of the maize to affected areas.

She added that the rain pattern had been pathetic in the district and that most areas would not have a good harvest.

Meanwhile, Serenje District in Central province has received 300 by 50kg bags of maize from the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) for sale in the district.

Serenje District Administrative Officer (DAO) Kenny Mungendenge confirmed the development in an interview, today.

Mr. Mungendenge says this was after his office requested for the maize for people in the district to buy at an affordable price to cushion the impact of the dry spell in the district last farming season.

He  said the maize is being sold from the FRA main shed at the turn-off at K60.00 per bag. He  has appealed to people of Serenje to benefit from the consignment by freely buying the maize.