By Linda likomwa

Phalombe December 1, Mana: Vice President, Dr. Machael Usi has donated fertilizer and maize seed to the elderly in Phalombe district.

Speaking during the donation at Paramount Chief Kaduya Headquarters on Sunday, Usi said he wanted to share the seed and fertilizer with the elderly in their fields, but since some of them cannot work in their fields that was why they gathered at the headquarters to do the donation and encouraged others to do the same to the less privileged.

Usi said he was doing all this in the spirit of promoting a culture of sharing and contributing to the country’s efforts to realize food security at the household level.

"I think if all of us can share whatever little with others, we can make a huge difference. This approach would also go a long way in contributing to national food security," Usi added.

On her part, Paramount Chief Kaduya thanked Usi for the donation, saying the farm inputs would assist the elderly to harvest and be food sufficient in their homes.

“Not all elderly people are on social cash transfer, so the seed and fertilizer would help them to produce more and have enough food to feed themselves'" she said, urging more well-wishers to come and assist those in need to end hunger in the district.

One of the beneficiaries, Fibbe Yona from Matephwe Village expressed joy with the donation, saying the elderly are most often excluded from various social protection programmes.

She, however, thanked the government through the office of the Vice President for considering the elderly.

Yona appealed Usi to extend the donation to other elderly persons in the country.

The Vice President later interacted with vendors at Migowi Market.