Vice President Mutale Nalumango has flagged off the distribution of 450 metric tonnes of relief maize in Chilanga District.
Mrs Nalumango indicated that the distribution of relief maize is aimed at helping households that have been adversely affected by the drought experienced during the 2023/2024 farming season.
Speaking during the flagging off ceremony in Mwembeshi Ward, Mrs Nalumango said in order to address the impact of the drought the government has developed the national drought response plan which provides the national framework for implementing immediate intervention measures for the affected households.
She indicated that the measures include lifesaving, life sustaining measures and drought early recovery measures among others.
Mrs Nalumango added that the measures are being implemented with a view to enhance the coping capacities of households and reduce vulnerabilities of communities to possible future shocks.
Meanwhile, Lusaka Province Minister Sheal Muylata explained that the area received over 2000 metric tonnes of relief maize for distribution to vulnerable households in all the districts in the region.
Ms Mulyata stated that all the districts in Lusaka Province that have not started distributing relief maize will officially commence the distribution exercise to vulnerable households today.
And Chilanga District Commissioner David Sheleni said the exercise of distributing relief maize to the vulnerable households is a measure that will help to address the effects of drought in the area.
Mr Sheleni added that about 70 percent of the expected harvest has been affected by the drought in the district causing the shortage of maize in the district.