The African Development Bank (AfDB) has commended Chiradzulu District Council for well-coordinated and timely distribution of relief maize under the lean season response programme, which was meant to cushion hunger-affected families in the district.
Speaking during a review meeting over the weekend, the AfDB Senior Agricultural Economist, Doreen Kumwenda, expressed satisfaction with how the distribution was handled, describing it as smooth, efficient and impactful.
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“As AfDB, we are committed to helping the people of this country, especially those affected by natural disasters. That is why we donated K1.8 billion to support government in procuring relief maize that was distributed in Chiradzulu District,” she said.
She added that the bank was impressed to learn that the council, with support from the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), managed to reach the entire caseload of 26,413 households within just 14 days.
“That gives us comfort that our support came at the right time, as it was meant to cushion food consumption during the lean season. Reaching the families within the season itself is commendable,” she said.
She further urged the council to develop sustainable strategies and interventions to mitigate the long-term effects of climate change on both the environment and people’s livelihoods.
Chiradzulu District Council, Acting Disaster Officer, Patrick Mulinga, said the 2024 Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) report projected that 118,859 people, or 26,413 households, in the district would face food insecurity.
He explained that during the three-month relief period, a total of 79,239 50-kilogram bags of maize were distributed, representing 75 percent of the targeted 105,652 bags.
“We recorded five cases involving forced sharing of relief supplies among households, and poor packaging sacks were the major challenge we faced,” Mulinga added.
One of the recipients of the relief food, Grace Banda from Traditional Authority Likoswe, thanked the AfDB for the timely support, saying it saved her family from hunger.
