No dying from hunger, JB assures Malawians
President Dr. Joyce Banda has arrayed fears that any Malawian will die of hunger in the wake of reported food shortages in the country.
President Banda assured the nation that her government is doing everything possible to ensure that food supplies reach every household that is in need.
The Malawi leader was speaking at Balaka Primary School grounds on Monday when she addressed a development rally after performing five public functions in Balaka.
“I will not allow that anybody should die of hunger in Malawi,” said President Banda in response to a plea by a representative of Traditional Authority Nsamala who curtain-raised the speeches at the function.
She said she has instructed officials in relevant ministries and department to make sure that foodstuff are moved from high concentrated areas to those of low concentration.
Besides, she said she had instructed ADMARC officials to make maize available in all places where people who are in need and able should buy.
“We are making sure that all options are explored to ensure that our people should not suffer,” said President Banda.
She warned officials handling relief items, including maize and other food stuff, against stealing or diverting them.
“Anyone found diverting relief items would be dealt with very severely because I will not allow that the people of Malawi should suffer because of a few selfish and callous individuals,” she stressed.
She urged leaders of other political parties, civil society and humanitarian organization to collaborate with her administration to avert the catastrophe.
“Time has come that we must demonstrate our love for the people that we claim to serve,” she appealed.
One of the public functions she performed in Balaka was to inaugurate water projects that have made available over 23 boreholes to the people in the various parts of the district.
President Banda said she is determined to ensure that all parts of the country have access to clean water found handily.
“It is when we have made the water available to the people that they will save the time they spend fetching water to concentrate on other productive activities,” she emphasized.
She said she was proud that her promise of making water available to the people was being realized, but acknowledged that more work needed to be done.
At Ulongwe Health Centre, President Banda handed over waiting shelter and ambulance to assist in mitigating related problems.
The provisions have been made in response to a request that she received a couple of months ago when she visited the area.
She assured the people who gathered at an impromptu meeting at the health centre addressed after making the handovers that work to construct a guardian shelter and a kitchen will start in the next fortnight.
