By Burnett Munthali
The first consignment of part of the 200,000 metric tonnes (MT) of maize that Malawi procured from Zambia has left the neighbouring country with 103,000MT dispatched today.
This significant development was witnessed by Malawi’s Minister of Agriculture Roza Mbilizi and her Zambian counterpart Reuben Mtolo Phiri at Zambia’s National Food Reserve Agency in Chipata.
Mbilizi told Zodiak Online that the remaining 97,000MT will be in Malawi before March next year to support both hunger stricken Malawians and those who have been affected by the recent floods.
The timely intervention is expected to bring much-needed relief to over 4 million Malawians facing food insecurity, a situation exacerbated by recent floods in the country.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s Agriculture Minister Mtolo Phiri says they were compelled to assist in Malawi’s food crisis, noting that the numbers of food insecure households were huge.
In October this year, the government of Malawi signed a K137 billion deal to procure 200,000MT of maize from Zambia, a move aimed at addressing the pressing issue of food scarcity in the country.
The deal is a testament to the strong bilateral relations between Malawi and Zambia, with Zambia demonstrating its commitment to supporting its neighbour during this challenging time.
As the maize arrives, Malawians are hopeful that the food crisis will soon be a thing of the past, and that the country will be able to feed its population without relying on external aid.
The successful dispatch of the maize is a result of collaborative efforts between the governments of Malawi and Zambia, and is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of millions of Malawians.
