Government assures Itezhi Tezhi of relief food distribution

– Itezhi Tezhi District Commissioner Roy Nang’alelwa says government will soon deliver relief food to all hunger stricken communities of Itezhi Tezhi district in Central province.

Mr Nangálelwa said this yesterday when he paid a courtesy call on newly installed Chief Chilyabufu of the Ila people of Itezhi Tezhi district.

He said that following the assessments that were done by officials from the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) under the Office of the Vice president, government is now set to send relief food to all parts of the district affected by hunger.

The District Commissioner said that government is aware of the poor harvest that the Ila people of Banamwaze chiefdom has experienced hence the need for relief food to alleviate hunger in the area.

“We had a meeting last week in Lusaka in which we finalized the issue of bringing relief food to all huger stricken parts of the district,” Mr Nang’alewla said.

The District Commissioner has appealed to the new chief to ensure that relief food reaches the intended communities and that headmen should work closely with Sub-chiefs to ensure only affected people receive it.

He said that government was aware that in the past relief food sent to hunger stricken areas was not reaching the intended people.

“We want all the relevant security wings and the headmen to be present during distribution of the food and ensure that the food goes to the rightful communities” Mr Nang’alwa said.

The district Commissioner warned that no corruption or abuse of authority by Indunas and chiefs will be tolerated in relief food distribution in the district.

Recently people in different parts of Itezhi Tezhi district appealed for relief food owing to poor harvest which has been attributed to too much rainfall in some areas and the infestation of army worms which destroyed some crops.