Zambia: Ward Councilor Paul Mutenguna of Monze Urban has expressed his concern about the hunger situation in the country. The official noted that the country’s government must prioritize the people of the rural areas to procure mealie-meals.
He demanded that priority inEagle branded Mealie-meal by Zambia National Service-ZNS, has to be given to residents who do not stay in town. The official noted that the people of the rural areas are affected more severely by the crop failure and foot shortages.
According to the Ward Councilor, rural residents also have to travel long distances to reach the distribution centres. In many cases, the beneficiaries have to travel back without the mealie meal package because the stock is over.
Ward Councillor Mutenguna expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation. Hachaambwa notes that people coming from far places are disadvantaged. They usually find queues by the time they get to town.
He says it is disheartening to see people travelling long distances and spending so much time in queues. Then people can end up not buying Mealie Meal due to a shortage of stock and supply.
In line with the Ward Councilor’s feelings, he has taken some corrective actions to help the people from the various villages of the ward.
He claimed that this was why he decided to visit various selling points. He took the initiative to register at least 40 people who were queueing in the early hours of Thursday.
The ward councillor wanted to ensure that these beneficiaries receive the commodity first, once it is supplied.
Paul Mutenguna further notes that he has also taken responsibility for visiting the ZNS Milling Plant in furtherance of his commitment to ensure that Mealie-meal is supplied on time so that people do not spend days in town.
He has since cautioned individuals to desist from buying the commodity for resale as it causes a shortage. Meanwhile, Haachambwa Malile from St Mary’s area in Monze has called on the government to supply the said Mealie meal to various wards in the district.