As hunger is still threatening most parts of the country and maize prices have soured, Senior Chief Mlauli of Neno district has asked the grain marketer, Admarc, to speed up the opening of its markets in the second phase of selling maize.

Speaking to Zodiak Online on Sunday, the senior chief said that many people in his area are going to bed on empty stomachs due to lack of food as vendors are selling maize at exorbitant prices, far from the reach of poor households.

 

He noted that if this continues, many people will not have food hence his call for Admarc to open its markets saying they sell at relatively fair price.

 

"For example in my area, we received relief maize from DoDMA in October and this is is December, that maize was used already during those months and for the people to survive, they need to buy from vendors who are selling at 50 to 55 thousand Kwacha per 50 kilograms bag," he said.

 

The Senior Chief further asked the Neno district council to talk to DoDMA to consider starting the process of distributing the November maize to which Neno District Commissioner Rosemary Nawasha assured the Chief that all processes are underway to have the maize distributed to those who received during the October Lean Season exercise.

 

When Zodiak asked the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Admarc Dan Makata, he told us that "We are starting the second phase in the first or second week of January and that we have been allocated 10,000 tons".

 

Makata added that the second phase will be for all districts in the country including Neno.

 

Neno was chosen as a 2023/24 Lean Season launch district following hunger reports that included the fainting of a 95 year old granny of Senior Chief Mlauli's area who went for four days without eating any food.

 

Another boy was also arrested in the area of Senior Chief Symon for stealing maize four to feed her grandmother who also went for days without food.

 

Another family of four was also admitted to Neno District Hospital after eating wild tubers commonly known as Mpama.