More than 35 000 hunger-hit households in Blantyre have started receiving free maize sourced by government from the World Food Programme (WFP) to cushion them during the current lean period.
Malawi Network of Older Persons’ Organisations (Manepo) executive director Andrew Kavala said at the launch of the initiative held at Traditional Authority (T/A) Chigaru headquarters the programme would run until March when most households are expected to begin harvesting maize from their gardens.
WFP contracted the elderly people’s organisation to support the maize distribution exercise being implemented in collaboration with Blantyre District Council.
Kavala said each registered household would receive a 50-kilogramme bag of maize every month for three months as part of efforts to respond to the current food insecurity.
“We urge beneficiaries to use the maize for its intended purpose which is to feed their families to ease the food shortages they are facing and not to sell it,” he pleaded.
Kavala also commended government and WFP for their timely intervention, saying the support will help stabilise vulnerable households during the lean period.
Blantyre District Council disaster risk management officer Faith Priscilla Khamula said 35 513 households were expected to benefit from the programme.
She added that in the third month the beneficiaries would also receive a cash top-up of K36 000 per household.
“We applaud all partners for coming to the rescue because the situation was dire with many households surviving on green boiled mangoes, and some reportedly going for days without any meal,” Khamula said.
T/A Chigaru welcomed the programme, saying the maize distribution will make a difference to affected families not only in his area, but the country as a whole.
Nationally, about four million people are projected to require food assistance during the 2025/2026 lean period which runs from October to March.
