Villagers attack train for wheat as hunger continues to bite Malawi
Central East Africa (CEAR) Railways company has expressed concern that villagers along its rail line in Balaka and Machinga are attacking trains in order to steal wheat which they use as flour for cooking Nsima.
Cear publicist Chisomo Mwamadi said the situation is now getting out of hand, forcing the company to step up security as villagers attack train wagons to steal wheat which they use for cooking Nsima.
“The trend is on the rise especially along the Liwonde and Nkaya,” said Mwamadi.
He said recently, villagers stormed Liwonde train station where they went to collect rotten wheat and police had to be called in to disperse the rampaging hungry villagers.
At least three million Malawians are facing starvation following acute food shortage blamed on El Niño weather phenomenon.
Minister of Agriculture Allan Chiyembekeza has said grain marketer Admarc has 50000 metric tonnes of maize in stock; a statement challenged by the Catholic church trough its social arm and other civil society groups.
Right to Food executive director Billy Mayaya is blunt on Chiyembekeza’s assertion, “that is a total lie.”
Mayaya challenged the government to show civil rights groups and the media where the maize is.
“They think if they tell us the truth that there is no maize, their popularity will go down politically. Government is jeopardising people’s lives,” said Mayaya.
He said people including women and children are sleeping on Admarc depots weeks on end an indication there is no maize in Admarc depots.
He asked President Peter Mutharika to declare a state of emergency on food.
National Food Reserve Agency executive director Nasimuko Saukira said the grain reserve has a meagre 21000 metric tonnes for World Food Programme for relief to the needy.
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Amabungwe awuzeni ma vendor azigulitsa chimanga mwa ntendele chimanga tilinacho ma vendor osatiso chanu cha ku Admark kwanuko koma chomwe timasunga pa chaka chili chose
Our Governor Chuka is busy devaluing the kwacha and he should know these are the effects for that, when there is drought you dont depreciate the kwacha to unimaginable levels, you stabilise so people can afford to pay for imported mazie flour. Here this is a double blow malawians drought which is not in our control, but excessive depreciation was in our control, but our governor is against that it seems he wants to punish malawians to the grave.
Hahahaha Boma ilo!!! A DPP please remove the maize cobs on your party cloth and send them to Admarc!
Billy Muyaya chonde auzeni a DPP kuti bodza silabwino
kodi a boma mukufuna anthu afe ndi njala chifukwa ciani inu osabvomera kuti chimanga mulibe kumanamiza anthe kuti muli ndi chimanga 50, 0000metre tonne koma liri bodza. chimangacho chirikuti anthu akufa ndi njala.Zitsiru inu a Chiyembekeza chifukwa chiani mukuuza anthu zaboza DPP ndi chipani cha utsiru.
The best way is to beg and be given and in situations like these when we have droughts and hunger companies will understand the problem and will help.