SPECIAL DUTIES Media.
Siavonga / 28.02.2024.
Traditional leadership in Siavonga have called on government to quickly intervene and send relief food to the area as a prolonged dry spell has gathered pace. Crops have dried up….. residents are depending on wild fruits.
A group of village HEADMEN from Lusangazi Ward in Sinadambwe Chiefdom in a company of Lusangazi Ward Councilor – Royen MWIINGA who visited the District Commissioner’s Office, reported to SPECIAL DUTIES Media about the devastating hunger situation. They are asking for government’s QUICK intervention on the desperate situation in the area.
The traditional leadership further explained that wild fruits that are consumed by people such as Ntungululwe is poisonous as it is cooked for continuous three days near a stream to drain away the poison before it can be eaten.
“A few days ago, 2 children collapsed in our area for having eaten the Ntungululwe, (the wild fruits) before it was ready for consumption. They were rushed to Sianyoolo health Center and that’s how they were saved. Please government aakaka, send us relief food,” said headman MOOLA.
However, area Councillor – Honourable Royen MWIINGA disclosed that 45 village headmen in all the 6 Zones of Lusangazi Ward consisting of about 8,000 people, held a meeting regarding the hunger situation.
Speaking on behalf of Siavonga residents, Lusangazi Ward Councilor revealed that crops have dried up due to the prolonged dry spell and people are depending on wild fruits such as Ntungululwe, busika, mabuyu and other wild fruits.
Mr MWIINGA has called on government to quickly send relief to Siavonga District as hunger is real as it has not just affected Lusangazi Ward but the entire District…. adding that people are not managing a meal a day and that prople are sleeping on an empty stomach.
Lusangazi civic leader has called on Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to consider bringing maize to Siavonga so that people can be buying maize and also Zambia National Service’s Eagle Mealie Meal.
Meanwhile Siavonga District Commissioner – Geoffrey JAKOPO revealed that government is aware of the hunger situation in the District due to the prolonged dry spell that has caused the crops to dry up.
Mr JAKOPO disclosed that about 111 Metric tonnes has been allocated to Siavonga District to mitigate the hunger situation in the area.
The DC disclosed that plans were deliberated for FRA to start bringing maize to the area and ZNS will set up a depot where cheap Mealie meal can be bought from too.
“As government, we are aware that our people are depending on wild fruits such as Ntungululwe and Mabuyu but as a loving government, the District has ALREADY concluded the plan to mitigate hunger in the District. FRA will soon start bringing maize for sale while ZNS will as well set up selling points for cheap mealie meal,” assured Mr JAKOPO.
SPECIAL DUTIES Media