Republican President Hakainde Hichilema has encouraged citizens to preserve food as the country experiences food shortages caused by the drought.
Zambia has experienced its worst drought in at least two decades, leading to severe food shortages and water scarcity among other adverse effects.
Speaking yesterday when he officiated at the Lwindi Gonde Traditional Ceremony of Tonga people, President Hichilema said government has been proactive in its response to the drought situation that has affected the entire Southern African region.
“For sure the country is experiencing the drought never seen in recent history, very devastating drought, this drought affects not only Zambia but the whole Southern Africa” President Hichilema said.
“Your government responded early on by declaring this drought as a disaster and emergency meaning that we will do two things for the people of Zambia, the core and focus is to feed all the citizens of Zambia who are affected by the drought.”
While government remains committed to providing sufficient food to affected citizens, the Head of State called on people of Zambia to adopt the culture of food preservation.
“You must be sparing and prudent, do not waste food, that is the call the government is making” he said.
“The government will try its best to give food to the people but be preservative, be prudent, do not waste food, someone next door needs the food.”
Meanwhile, President Hichilema also added that government had set up stringent measures to counter the food shortage in both the rural and urban areas of Zambia.
“We are working hard to reverse maize back to the buying depots so that the population can get the maize closer to their homes.
“We are also working hard to provide mealie meal for the urban centres under the Zambia National Service, Correctional Service but also private millers,” he said.
