Dodma set to roll out lean season response

Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) says it is ready to roll out the implementation of the 2022/23 Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme targeting food insecure people.

The Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (Mvac) projected that 3.8 million people will be food insecure in the country’s 27 districts and four cities during the 2022/23 lean season.

Speaking on Friday in Zomba during a full council meeting on the implementation of the 2022/23 Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme, Dodma response deputy director Fyawupi Mwafongo said the department is prepared to implement the programme.

He said Dodma has already disbursed money for preparatory activities to five councils whose beneficiaries will receive assistance for five months starting from November this year.

Said Mwafongo: “Five councils, namely Zomba District, Zomba City, Chikwawa, Nsanje and Balaka will receive assistance for five months, while the rest of the councils in the Southern Region will get assistance for four months.

“Beneficiaries in the Central and Northern regions will be assisted for three months.We will disburse money and distribute maize to beneficiaries.”

Zomba City mayor Davie Maunde called for efficiency in the implementation of the programme.

“Let us work in line with the specified time frame to implement the programme. Let us not let down the less privileged, they are counting on us,” he said.

Similar meetings were held in Balaka, Zomba, Nsanje and Chikwawa districts.