She spoke this today on Christmas Day during a distribution exercise at Felemu in the area of Senior Chief Mlauli where the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) offloaded 2,498 bags of maize weighing 50 kilograms each.

An 80-year-old granny, Enelesi Chadanyuka, from Julaye Village, Group Village Headman Felemu, T/A Mlauli said the relief maize has come at a right time since her area is almost a desert and rain fed agriculture is difficult.

She said that she was hopeful that the government will consider utilising the Shire river that passes through that area for irrigation.

In her speech, the District Commissioner said that " It was only right for us today to continue the distribution of maize during this festive day because the beneficiaries too need Xmas that starts or end with Nsima,".

She added that a bag of maize which has been distributed today will add a Christmas dish to the beneficiaries.

Neno District Council Relief and Rehabilitation officer Brighton Mphinga confided to us that "Today, 25th of  December 2023 we have received 2,498 50 kg bags of Maize to be distributed on this Christmas day, and we are overwhelmed with DoDMA's support,".

Neno District has 6,800 food insecure households that have been listed to benefit with the relief maize for the next six months, starting from October to March next year.

The Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) reported indicates that 4.4 million Malawians will be food insecure this year up to the next harvesting season of 2024.