HH urges chiefs to sensitise subjects on food security amid El Niño-induced drought fears CATHERINE BWALYA, MATHEWS MALAZIKA Monze, Lusaka PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has urged traditional leaders to sensitise their subjects to retain enough maize for household consumption…

• HH urges chiefs to sensitise subjects on food security amid El Niño-induced drought fears

CATHERINE BWALYA,

MATHEWS MALAZIKA

Monze,

Lusaka

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has urged traditional leaders to sensitise their subjects to retain enough maize for household consumption amid warnings of an impending El Niño-induced drought.

Speaking during the 2026 Samu Lya Moomba traditional ceremony in Bweengwa, Monze, President Hichilema assured the nation that Government will ensure that no one dies of hunger, but urged households to take responsibility by preserving adequate food stocks.

“All the traditional leaders, all of us, can we inform our people to retain as much maize as possible for your own family consumption because we have a drought and don’t say we were not told,” he said.

“Please keep as much maize so that we can protect our children from going hungry,” the President said.

He said the drought warning should not be taken lightly and called on traditional leaders to ensure that communities, particularly children and vulnerable people, are protected from hunger.

President Hichilema advised farmers to store maize in granaries rather than sacks, saying households are more likely to sell grain stored in sacks when they need money.

He said Government is already preparing programmes with traditional leaders and other stakeholders to support vulnerable communities.

The President said Government is also working with the Food Reserve Agency to rehabilitate existing storage sheds in communities, which will reduce the cost of transporting maize from production areas to storage facilities and back to consuming centres.

He further encouraged private individuals to invest in storage infrastructure which can later be rented to FRA.

“A 30×20 storage shed under the FRA specifications is only costing K1.8 million. You can invest back in your village. K1.8 million and FRA will rent your shed. But it will preserve the crop right at the local communities,” Mr Hichilema said.

President Hichilema also urged Zambians to increase production and become producers rather than merely consumers, saying a hungry country cannot be a happy country.

He encouraged farmers in Chief Choongo’s area to venture into wheat and soya bean production, noting that Government has identified increased production of the two crops among its priority areas under the Grow Zambia Agenda.

The President said he has demonstrated the potential of wheat farming by cultivating 400 hectares in the area, with the crop being sold to a customer at US$550 per tonne.

Meanwhile, President Hichilema said Government will allocate significant resources towards water provision in drought-prone areas to protect communities and support economic activity. https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home