Society

Maize scarcity worries Mchinji chief

 

Group Village Head (GVH) Pinda of Traditional Authority Mlonyeni’s area in Mchinji has said the scarcity of maize in his area’s Admarc depot has put households at risk of starvation.

The chief said people are living a dog’s life as only few can afford to buy maize from private traders, who have taken advantage of the situation to sell it beyond the financial means of most of his subjects.

His concern sharply contrasts government’s recent declaration that Mchinji was among the food secure districts in the country.

Maize_grainaries

Speaking at Pinda Ground last Saturday on the sidelines of the launch and handover of bicycles by National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust to its volunteers, the chief said about 2 500 households face food shortages.

“It is untrue and unfair to say that Mchinji is not affected with food shortage. The truth is that the district was affected by drought and this affected people, especially those who planted their crops late,” said GVH Pinda.

He appealed to government to provide maize to all areas affected by the drought in order to make the staple grain available and affordable to the people.

Pinda also feared the district might also experience the same problem next year as people have not been given coupons due to uncertainties surrounding the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp).

Member of Parliament of the area, Deus Gumba Banda, confirmed that hunger is looming in his constituency.

“As a Member of Parliament for this area I cannot deny the scarcity of maize which has become a source of worry among my constituents. They are food insecure and the situation is such that I alone cannot manage. I wish government officials could come and see the situation themselves and find the best way of assisting the people,” said Gumba.n

 

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