SIMON MUNTEMBA writes
@SunZambian
OVER 20, 000 households in Choma district are threatened with hunger following the prolonged dry spell experienced in most parts of Zambia, especially Southern Province, Choma mayor Javen Simooloka has said.
In an interview Mr Simooloka said according to the preliminary findings, the district was threatened with hunger due to total crop failure
“According to the preliminary findings conducted, over 20, 000 households in Choma are threatened with hunger following the prolonged dry spell experienced in most parts of Zambia,” Mr Simooloka said.
Mr Simooloka said the situation was desperate and needed quick attention, adding that he had written to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) and the provincial administration requesting for a comprehensive assessment of the situation.
The Mayor has also appealed to government to allow the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to sell certain quantities of maize at low prices to the affected families.
Meanwhile, Mr Simooloka said that the assessment should also include the water situation for both people and animals.
And the Meteorological Department in Choma has said that Southern Province has recorded the lowest rainfall distribution in the 2018/ 2019 season in over 46 years.
Senior Meteorological Officer, Davies Langeni said that this season’s rain distribution stood at 273millimeters, 77 less than 350 millimeters registered in the 1972/1973 season.
Mr Langeni further observed that the little rains expected to come before the close of the season would not be enough to improve the situation.
