By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, December 7, Mana: Director of Preparedness and Response at the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA), Reverend Moses Chimphepo, on Friday expressed satisfaction with the progress of maize distribution currently underway across the country.

Chimphepo revealed that the government has so far reached out to 4.5 million people through its maize distribution program, which aims to help 5.7 million individuals in the country.

Chimphepo made the remarks when he visited the final distribution points under the 2024-25 Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme in Salima.

"We are optimistic that the hunger situation in some parts of the country including Salima will stabilize following the distribution of relief maize currently underway," he said.

He added: "Districts with worsened hunger situations like Salima will receive support from the government for 4 months to cushion food insecure households, we appeal to all the beneficiaries to use the food donation, particularly maize for its intended purpose and not selling," he said.

While praising the programme's progress, Chimphepo said, government has provided 39,000 metric tons of maize, while other stakeholders, including the World Food Program, contributed an additional 11,000 metric tons.

In her remarks, one of the beneficiaries, Patuma Eid of Juma Village, Traditional Authority Maganga said the drought left them with little or no harvests leading to hunger in their area.

"We hardly harvested anything because of the erratic rains, at the moment hunger is at its peak in this area, therefore, the coming in of government with this relief maize has given us a sigh of relief because we have witnessed even the prices of maize on the market dropping due to this maize distribution," she said.

Another beneficiary from Thom Village in the area of Traditional Authority Maganga, Maupa Anafi, expressed gratitude for the timely donation, stating that many have been going to bed hungry.

"We used to survive on mangoes unfortunately we are almost at the end of mango season here in Salima, making the situation worse, hearing that we will receive maize for the next 4 months is a relief to us and our families," he said.

On his part, Group Village Headman Chimwabvi commended Government's response to maize distribution, because 7 out of 10 people in his area are grappling with hunger and in dire need of assistance.

Chimwabvi has since made an assurance that every beneficiary would be closely monitored to ensure that the donated maize is used for its intended purpose.

The program was launched in the southern region, then expanded to the central region, and is scheduled to scale up to the Northern region next week.