By Memory Kutengule Chatonda

Blantyre, February 24, Mana:  Government has started distributing maize flour targeting 1.8 million food-insecure people in the districts of Blantyre Chiradzulu, Lilongwe, Machinga, Mangochi, Mulanje, Mzimba, Thyolo, Dowa, Karonga, Ntchisi and Chitipa.

Presiding over the launch of maize flour distribution exercise under the 2023/24 Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme at Chilangoma and Andiseni in Blantyre on Saturday, Minister of Information and Digitalisation Moses Kunkuyu said government is committed to ensuring that no one dies of hunger.

“We are expecting to receive 23,000 metric tonnes of maize flour from Tanzania and South Africa and so far, the first consignment of 1400 metric tonnes have arrived in the country which we are now distributing to the targeted 397,778 households.

“It is the wish of President Lazarus Chakwera who is the Minister responsible for Disaster and Management Affairs to see that no one dies of hunger,” he said.

The minister then warned people who would want to enrich themselves at the expense of intended beneficiaries that they will face the law once caught.

He advised the beneficiaries not to sell the maize flour but use it for the intended purpose.

“Any beneficiary who sells this flour will be struck off from the list of beneficiaries forthwith; and reported to security personnel for further action,’ he warned.

Kunkuyu, therefore, commended various governments and humanitarian partners, specifically the World Bank, for providing financial support for procuring maize flour, and World Food Programme (WFP) for assisting government in providing logistical arrangements for the importation of the maize flour.

In his remarks, WFP country representative Paul Turnbull described the food distribution exercise as a significant milestone in the organization’s efforts to alleviate the plight of vulnerable people who urgently require food assistance.

“Access to food is a fundamental human right, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that no one is deprived of this necessity. Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to build more resilient Malawi as we strive to achieve Zero Hunger goal by 2030,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Fanny Luka from Kuntaja area commended government for assisting them with the maize flour saying this initiative will help them to have food at home to sustain their daily life.