Govt sends relief food to Kilwa

-Government has released 2,000 bags of white maize people   to Kilwa Island on Lake Mweru in Nchelenge District for hunger-stricken people.

 

The development has been confirmed to the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) by in-coming Nchelenge District Commissioner, Royd Chakaba.

 

Mr Chakaba said the  Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) under the Office of the Vice President has released the maize to help alleviate the severe  hunger situation facing the people on the island following a crop failure which was caused by a drought.

 

Mr Chakaba said the release of the relief food on time is testimony of  Government’s  care for the people, adding that this is more true because there are more than 12 districts throughout the country that are facing a similar situation.

 

The DC said the relief food is meant to benefit all the affected residents at the island which has a population of 18,000 people.

 

He revealed a mining company from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has port facility, has offered to ferry the relief food to Kilwa Island from Nchelenge mainland for free.

 

Mr Chakaba said Anvil Mine has offered to transport the maize as part of its Community Social responsibility, adding that there is need for other business houses to emulate the gesture of the mine and come forward to also assist the people of Kilwa Island.

 

And Chief Nshimba has paid tribute to Government for responding to the appeal for relief food.

 

Chief Nshimba said the move by Government has come as sigh of relief for his subjects, most of who he said have no other source food.

 

The Nchelenge District Disaster Management and Mitigation Committee has selected World Vision Zambia Mweru Area Development Programme to carry out the distribution of the relief food.