JB plays down DPP attacks, vows to continue food distribution
President Mrs. Joyce Banda on Thursday vowed to continue distributing food to needy Malawians across the country and that no-one can stop her, apparently referring to critics who accuse her of “politicizing” the exercise.
Speaking when she addressed a rally in Mulanje Pasani Constituency, President Banda said the hunger situation in this country is at a critical stage and that the situation can spiral out of hand if nothing serious is done about it.
“I will distribute this food to hunger-stricken families particularly women and the elderly until the next harvest,” said the Head of State fondly referred to as JB.
The President said many people are in danger of facing hunger this farming season than originally thought and Mulanje is one of the districts in the country which will be affected.
She commended chiefs in the district for acknowledging the hunger situation and for inviting her in time to distribute food to needy families in the area.
Banda said opposition DPP were citicising her foot distribution out of envy, saying the the flour she was distributing was her personal offer to the people, adding that government would soon start distributing maize from its reserves, particularly in the areas that were hard hit by drought.
“Reports countrywide indicate that 1.6 million, almost 2million people are food insecure, hence I started on my own, distributing this flour to needy families,” she said.
People’s Party founding member, firebrand politician Brown Mpinganjira attributed the food insecurity in the district to, among other factors, shortage of land for cultivation and natural calamities such as drought due to climate change.
“In this area hunger is perpetrated by lack of land for cultivation, as most of the land was initially grabbed by farmers who grow tea.
“I therefore humbly appeal to you, Your Excellency the President, to continue assisting hunger stricken families in the country and the districts in particular,” he said.
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