Chief Nsefu appeals for relief food

Chief Nsefu said people were depending on wild fruits such as mangoes due to the hunger situation in his chiefdom.
The chief called for help when Eastern Province Patriotic Front (PF) chairperson Lameck Mangani paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Mambwe District on Tuesday.
The traditional leader said relief food was needed urgently to avert deaths due to hunger.
Chief Nsefu said his subjects had resorted to having one meal a day with the view of conserving the little they had harvested while others had nothing at all for days.
The traditional leader said the hunger situation in his chiefdom was as a result of crop failure during the 2012/13 farming season due to weather patterns.
“The elephants also terrorised most of the fields forcing my subjects to harvest little,” Chief Nsefu said.
He also expressed sadness at the water shortage in the area, saying Government should mitigate the situation by sinking boreholes.
Chief Nsefu said he was happy that the PF Government was delivering developmental projects in his chiefdom.
“I am really happy with the current Government because it means well to people. Chiefs are always behind the Government of the day. So let them (UPND) distribute bicycles but I know development can only be spearheaded by the ruling Government, “he said.
He said former Malambo Member of Parliament (MP) Maxwell Mwale who was seeking re-election was no longer a factor in the constituency because he belonged to the opposition.
And Mr Mangani said he would take the concerns of the chief to relevant authorities.
“Your royal highness I have heard your concerns and I will deliver your message to the relevant authorities including President Michael Sata himself,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Mangani who was accompanied by the adopted PF candidate for Malambo constituency Jack Shuma, former provincial youth chairperson Makabaninso Chiwele and other party officials said he was confident of the party scooping the November 22 by-election.