By Clarabella Chipolonga

Chiradzulu, February 1, Mana: Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) says it is set to distribute maize flour to households that are facing food insecurity in Chiradzulu district through the second phase of the Lean Season Response programme.

Dodma revealed this on Wednesday during an interface meeting with Chiradzulu District Council.

Speaking in an interview, Deputy Director for Disaster Response, Fyawupi Mwafongo, said the development comes after government managed to mobilize resources to support the vulnerable households in the district.

"Government under the Contingent Emergency Response has managed to secure funds from the World Bank which has been used to buy maize and maize flour that will support food insecure households that were registered by the district council," said Mwafongo.

He further said that all the arrangements for the distribution are at advanced stage despite facing few challenges, adding 1,077 metric tonnes of maize flour is expected to be distributed.

"The preparation started in 2023, only that we had been facing logistical, procurement issues and the necessary procedures to get the flour but we are assured by World Food Program (WFP) that the supply will start in the next two weeks hence our coming to ensure that all arrangements are in place so that when the delivery starts we should be able to move on the ground to distribute,” he said.

In his remarks, Desk Officer for Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme in Chiradzulu, Chimwemwe Hara, said the programme will help beneficiaries to be healthy and effective.

"As a council, we are ready and waiting for the distribution to start, knowing that the flour will help people from this district to have food until they harvest," said Hara who is also the Land Resources Conservation Officer for Chiradzulu.

Over 21,550 food-insecure households are to benefit from the programme and each household will receive a 50 kilogramme bag of maize flour, and the procurement and delivery of the flour will be done by WFP.