Clergy wants Chakwera to tackle food security issues

The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) is expecting president Chakwera to address the nation on issues of food security in light of the drought that has hit most parts of the country.

Chakwera will on Wednesday appear in parliament and respond to questions from legislators on his State of the Nation Address (SONA) which he delivered last Friday.

Maize has withered in most gardens as some areas have not received rains for three consecutive weeks.

This is creating fear of hunger as already people have resorted to eating maize husks, wild tubers and mangoes

CCJP national coordinator Boniface Chibwana noted that the crop outlook in most gardens is pathetic.

“Chakwera need to come out clear on what plans his government has lined up to bail out the country as the current dry spell has a huge impact on field crops,” said Chibwana.

A Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) report indicated that over 4 million people will be food insecure this year.

The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) has been distributing maize in areas affected by cyclone Freddy.

However there have been calls for the authorities to go beyond people affected by cyclones.

“Almost all districts across the country are affected by hunger hence it is unfair to target those affected by Cyclone Freddy only. Maize should also be made available in AMARC markets,” executive director of the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) Michael Kaiyatsa suggested.