Malawi maize crisis worsening: Woman faints queueing on empty stomach

After queuing on an empty stomach  to buy maize at Ndirande-Chinseu Admarc, one woman fainted as buyers fought for the scarce grain.

Local press reports says the woman whose identity is not  verified was pushed by the crowd and fell to the ground but regained conscious after being taken to a local health clinic.

Mothers whose breast milk has dried up due to lack of food, jostle for space, their babies strapped to their backs queuing for  staple food maize which  has become scarce in most parts of the country.

Occasionally a scuffle breaks out as some hungry person, accused of pushing in, is plucked from the queue by police officers.

Councilor for Makata Ward Cecilia Zeka Phiri who was at the scene said the depot receives at least 300 bags a day but the number of buyers has steadily been growing.

“This depot receives maize almost on a daily basis but the demand is too high. People sleep here waiting for their turn to buy maize which only lasts for few days as they are allowed to buy only 20kgs per individual,” she said as quoted in The Nation newspaper.

The hunger is already causing heartbreak and Nyasa Times reported on Monday that a group from Thyolo petitioned President Peter Mutharika asking the Head of State to intervene in the situation.