THE FOOD RESERVE AGENCY (FRA) HAS ASSURED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OF CONTINUOUS SUPPLY OF MAIZE TO THE DROUGHT AFFECTED AREAS OF THE COUNTRY THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS STRATEGIC RELIEF PROGRAMMES AIMED AT MAKING MAIZE AVAILABLE TO VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS IN THE AFFECTED AREAS.
THIS IS TO ACTUALIZE EMERGENCY RESPONSE MEASURES FOLLOWING THE DECLARATION OF A DROUGHT EMERGENCY BY THE ZAMBIA REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT, HIS EXCELLENCY, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA.
FRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MWANSA CHAMATETE SAYS THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE IMPLEMENTING THE COMMUNITY SALES PROGRAMME IN DROUGHT AFFECTED AREAS IN ORDER TO MAKE MAIZE AVAILABLE TO THE VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE SUSTAINED DOMESTIC AND NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY.
HE HAS REMINDED STAKEHOLDERS RESPONSIBLE FOR IDENTIFYING VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS IN THE AFFECTED AREAS TO ENSURE THAT ONLY GENUINE BENEFICIARIES ARE LISTED ON THE BENEFICIARIES LISTS THAT ARE SUBMITTED TO FRA FOR THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES TO BE SOLD MAIZE.
MR CHAMATETE HAS ADVISED THAT NOTED THAT ONLY ONE FIFTY KILOGRAMME BAG OF MAIZE WILL BE SOLD PER HOUSEHOLD PER MONTH AT A PRICE OF K330.00 IN A BID TO CARTER FOR A NUMBER OF BENEFECIARIES.
HE ADDS THAT AS THIS EXERCISE CONTINUES, THERE WILL NOT BE ANY UNNECESSARY MOVEMENT OF MAIZE FROM ONE BENEFICIARY DISTRICT OR IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY LOCATIONS TO THE OTHER IN ORDER TO PREVENT NEGATIVE VICES SUCH AS FRAUD, THEFT, TRADING AMONG OTHERS.
MR CHAMATETE SAYS THE AGENCY WILL CLOSELY WORK WITH THE LOCAL LEADERSHIP, ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE AND OTHER GOVERNMENT WINGS TO ENSURE THERE IS NO ABUSE OF THIS WELL INTENDED INTERVENTION.
HE SAYS OTHER STRATEGIC INTERVENTIONS AIMED AT ENSURING SUSTAINED NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED INCLUDE AMONG OTHERS THE HOMEGROWN SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME, MAIZE SALES TO HOSPITALS, HOSPICES, BOARDING SCHOOLS, CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, AND THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION UNIT AMONG OTHERS.