By Aisha Chiwaya

Salima, December 16. Mana: Salima District Commissioner James Mwenda has expressed satisfaction with maize distribution exercise currently underway in the district.

Mwenda made the remarks on Monday when he supervised some of the distribution centres in the district.

"As a council, we anticipated queries but so far the activity has not received many challenges as initially anticipated. We are warning the beneficiaries and the vendors not to trade the maize in order for the activity to achieve its intended purpose." he said.

He said anyone found selling distributed maize will be arrested saying the purpose is for people to have food after being affected by dry spells.

A beneficiary from Group Mtande, Aniya Kambulire, deemed the programme timely.

Kambulire also concurred with the district commissioner that selling the received maize will be detrimental.

“Lack of food remains a big challenge for people like us who live in rural areas in as far as having basic needs is concern. Therefore, selling the maize will only show that we are ungrateful people”.

Malawi government is implementing maize distribution through the Department of Disaster Management in all the districts of Malawi.

At least 37,753 households are expected to benefit from the programme for four months in Salima district.