Minister Mweetwa Visits Kalomo District, Urges Vigilance Amid Drought Crisis
Hon. Cornelius Mweetwa, Minister of Information and Media and Chief Government Spokesperson, undertook a fact-finding mission to Kalomo District to assess the impact of the ongoing drought and evaluate maize stocks held by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in the region.
During his visit, Minister Mweetwa engaged with District Commissioner Joshua Sikaduli and emphasized the critical need to safeguard maize reserves to mitigate the effects of the drought. He stressed that every grain of maize must be utilized efficiently, highlighting the government’s commitment to preventing any wastage.
Expressing concern over the looming crisis, Minister Mweetwa urged the District Commissioner to raise awareness among local communities about the implications of declaring the drought a natural disaster.
He highlighted water scarcity as an immediate consequence of the drought, warning of potential challenges such as lack of pasture for livestock and increased risk of disease outbreaks.
In light of the situation, Minister Mweetwa advised local authorities to align their budgets to address the effects of the drought effectively. He reassured Zambians that the government is implementing various measures to ensure food security at the household level, urging against panic stockpiling of maize.
Responding to the Minister’s visit, the Kalomo District Commissioner expressed gratitude and appealed for support from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock to conduct awareness campaigns on preparedness for livestock disease outbreaks expected due to the drought.
Meanwhile, Maxwell Choombe, Southern Province Agriculture Coordinator, revealed that approximately 6100 hectares of land dedicated to maize cultivation in the entire province have been severely affected by the drought, further underscoring the urgency of the situation.
