Support Karonga farmers, says group

Karonga-Chitipa Cultural Heritage has appealed to well-wishers to support farmers affected by a prolonged dry spell in Karonga District.

In a statement released on Sunday, the group is appealing to well-wishers to contribute money towards the initiative.

Reads the statement in part: “The Karonga-Chitipa Cultural Heritage joins the Tigwirane Manja Appeal [made by bishop Mtumbuka] and would like to extend an appeal to its members, well-wishers and the public to help support households affected by the prolonged dry spell and flooding due to adverse effects of climate change.”

In an interview yesterday, the group’s secretary John Kabwilo said being a heritage of people of Karonga and Chitipa districts, it is their obligation to mobilise resources to help the affected farmers.

“The message to the people of Karonga and Chitipa is that charity begins at home. Not all people in these districts are affected, as such, we call on ourselves to help our relatives.

“Well-wishers should come in after we have set a good example.”

Karonga district director of agriculture, environment and natural resources Raphael Mkisi said the dry spell has affected at least 30 000 farming households in the district.

The group is the second institution to appeal for support for the farmers after Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga Diocese of the Catholic Church.

However, Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu has assured people in the district that government will provide necessary support through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs.