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Hunger continues to bite in rural areas

By editor
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THE disaster Management and Mitigation Unit vulnerability assessment committee has embarked on an exercise to assess the hunger situation in Monze.

This came to light when a team of DMMU vulnerability assessment committee, VAC, visited the district to verify reports by the district disaster management committee that the hunger situation in the area is deteriorating.

VAC officials said in an extra ordinary meeting with the district disaster management committee held at the conference unit yesterday that they would conduct assessments at district and community levels in order to come up with recommendations to DMMU.

They said the recent VAC report released by DMMU had been rendered useless because many districts had indicated that hunger was becoming a serious problem that needed to be addressed as soon as possible as it was reported that people in some cases resorted to eating wild fruits.

They told the Monze district disaster management committee that in the assessment, VAC team would establish the best way of approaching the problem, the number of households affected and other relevant matters.

Meanwhile Chilubi Member of Parliament Obby Chisala has appealed to government to urgently send relief food to the area to avert starvation due to a food deficit caused by floods experienced in the area last year.

The lawmaker said the floods washed away crops in 30 wards of the area leading to the existing food deficit in the area.

Mr. Chisala told ZANIS that government through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit should act with a sense of urgency to avert starvation.

He further said government should also assist the affected families with maize seeds to ensure food security next year.

Mr. Chisala has commended government for the timely delivery of farming inputs to Chilubi.

He said farmers have since started tending to their fields.

editor
editorhttp://www.lusakatimes.com

118 COMMENTS

  7. 8-> Poor villagers i pity them.they blindly voted for pipo who are busy filling their tummies at the so called fund raising dinner.
    RB help the pipo who put in u in that position its not fair God is watching you. I hope villagers have learnt a gud lesson. vote wisely in 2011.

  8. uncle G @7 you are right let them eat the fitenges they got during campaigns. villagers wake up refuse to be used. look at the pipo u voted for their stomachs are so full almost bursting. and u are starving.

  13. You guys should be ashamed,leave the poor villagers alone because they had no idea what they were doing when they where voting for Akulumpuno.

  14. instead of giving the chiefs tractors so they can plough the land they are given 4by4s so they can come to the capital to beg for handouts while thier sujects starve.
    If they were given tractors, they could lease them out to subjectsat subsidised prices payable after the harvest.

  18. #7 & 8 it would make sense to educate them of the power in their vote other than ask them to chew vitenjes.MMD has just taken advantage of their ignorance,period. its our pipo starving while the politicians drive cars worth 150,000 dollars. its shameful

  20. BUT HOW COME THEY ARE STARVING. IS THIS NOT THE GROUP OF VOTERS TETA WAS TELLING US HAVE SEEN, APPRECIATED AND RECIEVED THE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTAL STRIDES OF MMD. THEY HAVE A GOVERNMENT FULLY SUPPORTED BY THEM, SO WHY ARE THEY STARVING. DO YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THE DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN WIPED OUT SO CLOSE TO ELECTIONS. SINCE WHEN DID FOOD SECURITY ALSO STOP BEING AN IOTA OF DEVELOPMENT. THEY TOO HAVE A LEEWAY OF SELLING THE BRAND NEW CHITENGES THEY RECIEVED TO RAISE MONEY FOR FOOD, CAN SOMEONE TELL THESE FELLAS THIS PLEASE. OR STILL THEY SHOULD TALK TO TETA AND HE WILL SHOW THEM THE DEVELOPMENT HE MEANT FOR THEM.

  21. Kwena tamwakwata imitima. These suffering people are your relatives. You are all behaving like most politians who want to revenge. Our people are hungry and we need to do something about it as we advise them to vote wisely. We should tell them to vote for people who will not forget them when elected. Where is RB kanshi? Just attending ama dinner dance while people perish. Shame on him…

  22. How can we produce more when the price of fertilizer is beyond our income.chemicals, labour forget about me going back to the village. Kuvillage kulibe Lagos Rd na Addis Ababa :)>-b-)

  23. We villagers are simply suffering because you town people continue to cheat us on our commodity prices on top of stealing our healthy young men.

  25. #21 A+

    Thanks for sympathising with us villagers. There is alot of work to be done here in the village although our young people are decieved by town life.

  26. A+ manje wa yamba kuti tukana after your sympathy? Us villagers have more wisdom that you town people with your chemical filled diets. Come and eat freshly ground roller meal and you will tell me.

  28. These villagers are annoying? Let them eat the vitenges and sugar RB was distributing. Informed minds know how to vote but they are always let down by these villagers. How can the ignorant rural population be deciding on who governs us? Probably, its high time we also taught them to demand for what they voted for…let them pressure the leaders they chose, that’s the task they have with hunger kissing them. I strongly feel that when hunger bites seriously next time they will know what it means to vote right. Unlike the way they have been annoying the informed populace in Zambia. Sorry on this one I don’t even feel pity.

  29. You pity-less Mukelebai, how can you say that sha. I will not waste my time bringing chibwantu next time I come to town.

  32. You zambian refugees, how can u be so heartless? some of you basokulu are busy bewitching themselves because of hunger. if you claim to be a zambian, try to be a solution and not just a spectator. soon ba shikulu ba sata will join his ancestors. you need to be there to continue his vision and dream for the motherland if you truly believe in his principles. And u mmd die hards, its time you lived up to your promises as you are in govt,whether thru crooked or righteous means.

  33. They are called decision makers. They always vote wisely and they are the only zambian people who agree to R&B `s old ideas.
    Let them suffer.

    fikamushi. Mwamoneni mwakulalya ama ten pin balemipela pa compaign

  35. Iwe Chibwe

    How can you insult us like that. You have forgotten that you come from the soil and that your relatives are back in the village.

  36. bwali pwa ubunga ba mipele? aku chuleni ifyo fine ba kankuni imwe. ali miyangala nyandule, yena alelya chicken imwe you are boiling mongoes hahahahahaha mwachuleni mukwai ba kafusasa.

  39. Ba Mukelabai what are you doing in Zimbabwe. Are you a volunteer? Stop insulting the poor villagers. Have a heart for them, please. Together we cab make a difference. Let’s be patient with them. Careful, cholera izakugwila ku Zim…

  42. #26. Anonymous

    Am not insulting you. I love village life. It’s only that democracy is new to the village. People are used to being given a chief. The chief comes from the so-called royal family. In the context of modern politics, villagers feel it is wrong to “remove” the ruling party–which they perceive as being the royal family. So when a chief dies–like mwanawasa did–you think only one form the royal MMD can replace him. Only the tongaz think of change–am not tonga–since they have no paramount chief.

  43. Am a volunteer helping Zimbabweans whom I sincerely know that they are just victims of a man-made disaster. As for those villagers in Zambia, they will never have my sympathy because that’s a self inflicted disaster. Nobody pointed a gun to their heads when they were walking in the voting booth.

  46. Poverty could strike anytime, anywhere and it does not take one to be a rocket scientist to figure this out. The dynamics in Zambia that keep certain regions poor is what needs to be sorted out. The apparent poverty seen in rural areas can easily be wiped out if only prudent people are placed in power. The reality check on who could have been the most probable candidate among the Presidential aspirants MEETING THIS CRITERIA should surely for on RB.

  47. 39…Am a volunteer helping Zimbabweans whom I sincerely know that they are just victims of a man-made disaster. As for those villagers in Zambia, they will never have my sympathy because that’s a self inflicted disaster. Nobody pointed a gun to their heads when they were walking in the voting booth.

  50. The sheer absurdity and paradox of one fellow witnessing crimes committed by a SATA like MUGABE, yet scorning his fellow country men who refuse to have anything of what is taking place in that same country (Zimbabwe) is just astonishing. Just amazing.

  51. MUKELEBAI…Bob has been asked to resign by George,jimmy carter and Condoleeza, so hpe something good comes out of that

  52. Mukelebai

    Remember, SATA’s PF, MUGABE’s ZANU(PF),
    SATA idolises MUGABE,
    SATA like MUGABE was set on intent to chase away investors,
    Remember, SATA was championing the THIRD term of FTJ whilst MUGABE has clung to power relentlessly.

    I am simply amazed!

  53. Today’s Post: PF peaceful demos to go ahead – Sata

    Reacting to defence minister George Mpombo’s threats that Zambia’s well trained army will crush the demonstrations countrywide, Sata respnoded: “Can Mr. Mpombo tell me how that efficient and well-trained army has failed to conquer rats in hospitals which are eating lips and noses of children?” Sata asked. “They have failed to conquer rats which are not armed, defenceless rats moving at will. Today if we decide to demonstrate there is nothing George Mpombo could do to us.”

  54. Listen to this ‘Am a volunteer helping Zimbabweans whom I sincerely..’

    But scorning his very own people! How can it be? How?

  55. Bloggers don’t be mislead by the flag…am not in Zim. LT gets confused sometimes don’t you know that. Just this morning it was indicating that I was in the UK. Am somewhere but not home. Stay Well

  58. Mukelebai

    Whatever your reasons for supporting SATA, they are surely tainted with ill motive. You dare to scorn your own people on account of them voting for a candidate of their own choice! Amazing.

  60. baby c, he is busy geting money from the loans as he has to cover up the money he lost during campaigns.
    obvious the account had gone low when he was out of politics so he wants to coverup the loss

  61. Mukelebai

    Anyone with a bit of sense will notice that SATA is filled with bitterness and from that quote you can easily see his ill bent motives. His hiding behind the cause of the poor but with clear ‘ill motive’

  62. #61 anonymous we know you hate sata, but people have a right to demonstrate, OK? It’s not a police state

  63. 61…You are a sorry mind..full of self importance for nothing. Don’t expect every one to side with your choice, who are you? Excuse me! Don’t curse just because am trying to leave up to my democratic right to choose. In any case, what business is it to you even if I am PF? Get a life…

  64. Iwe Phirie

    I also no that you worship SATA. listen, SATA cant just swallow his pride, he lost. The Grz has extended an olive branch to him. If he has solutions to the current maize prices let him suggest the solutions to the GRZ before deciding to protest.

    You know very well that civilised people dont jump to protest before stating thier complaint. Refusing to do so is clearly ‘not becoming’.

  65. What caused this hunger in Monze, is it floods like the case in Chilubi Island?

    I am glad to see that the children in the picture are healthy though poor in clothes. Looks like its the grandma they are with. Where are the parents, are they alive?

    Are there enough you men and women in the villages to cultivate the land. Grandma cant feed all those mouths alone. At least they are not street kids, like in urban areas.

    How can we prevent this hunger from happening again to our dear people, our roots? Food handouts are not the solution.

  66. 61..Just unmask yourself. You are a tyrant at least from your undemocratic postings we can see that. You criticize and hate Sata for the very things you are exhibiting here. This is just a typical case of a pot calling kettle BLACK. We can all see that…we are not GULLIBLE.

  67. #63 Mukelebai

    I have struck some nerve I guess. Truth hates. You cant scorn your own fellow Zambians and yet condone the savage behaiviour of SATA/MUGABE. BTW I never cursed you, nor do I have any intention of doing so. Relax.

  68. #66 Mukelabai I think our friend Anonymous is one of those bitter Zim or RSA farmers who hates everything under the sun

  69. Who knows, may be some of those kids can grow up to be doctors, engineers, nurses, teachers etc if given the support. Those cool heads could be full of brains. Many prominent Zambians have come from such backgrounds. I knwo of a medical doctor/consultant in the UK who grew up from such environments, even failing grade 7. Actually i know of a lot of professionals out here in the UK who came out of such humble beginings. We joke about these things. May those young people be given a chance to prove their academic abilities.

  70. #66 Mukelebai

    Could you substantiate your allegations. You say I am a tyrant, how so? I have been accused before of being a sycophant by some people on this blog, so I am not surprised for that additional name tug.

    Iam not sure what you mean?

  73. Iwe Phirie,

    I hate everything under the sun? Now that is another classic. Mukelebai was scorning us villagers and I felt obliged to confront him with his rantings. He has since labelled me tyrant and here you are accusing me of hating everything under the sun! One of us must surely be nuts and certainly ain’t me.

  75. Ladies and gentlemen on this blog, if we were asked to help the rural people, what would we say is the cause of poverty in rural areas?

    1)Is it land they dont have, to cultivate food
    2)Is it inputs they lack, so that they cant even grow what they want
    3) Is it markets they lack, that they cant sell whatever agri produce they want to sell
    4) Is it manpower they lack, may be HIV has wiped out able bodies young men and some have migrated to urban areas
    5) Is it support they lack, eg capital etc

    If we have experts on rural development on this blog, please guide us on this matter

  77. UK-Zed Observer

    I know that you are one of those few bloggers who make very meaningful contributions and I can see you are trying to bring sanity to a thread gone bonkus. Forgive me!

  79. #75

    None of the above!

    They are too lazy to cultivate because sugar daddy has spoiled them with cheap handouts!!!!!!!!!

  81. #77 Ananymous. Thanks. You are alright, I know.

    I understand the frustrations aroused by the failure of our politics. But I know that trully, Zambians are decent people at heart. That’s why we have the peace. I know that honestly we all care for those poor people. Education has enlightened a lot of us, so we cant be cheated. But poor villages lack that education. Some of these are our own parents and grandparents, very wise but not exposed. Some ask us for advice.

  82. #81 No need to advice wise villagers. We know what we want. We only ask that you town people respect our choice and pay what is due to us.

    Is that a deliberate mispelling of my .. ananymous

  83. GRZ has started implementating our demands. Electricity supply to villages will go a long way to alleviate some of our problems. Roads must be tarred especially those leading to productive areas.

  84. One thing that I love about politician is that they tell us to vote wisely.So iam sure the pipo in Monze voted wisely.Now that they voted wisely they have to benefit from a person they voted for,and these are some of their benefits. :((Insala you see you will start dying very soon,especially that you don’t even have cassava like us from luapula and northern.

  85. Grandma Am so sorry,your grandchildren are just too many.How I wish you where in a country like South Africa,you could have benefited from the grant(old aged grants,children grants) manje pa ZED nothing.

  86. #82 Anonymous.

    Sorry for the spelling mistake. I normally just type without looking.

    Good to hear about the electrification and tar roads. It will certainly help reduce poverty in rural areas. Some families get fortunate by having support within, e.g having a caring educated or prosperous son or daughter. Others desperately depend on Govt. There’s just too much poverty out there.

  89. Truly speaking abenamushi took Sata out of the presidency!!! Now let Rupiah give them food…he is busy dancing with his daughter in Lusaka. It is shameful, lyeni ifitenge fyaba MMD. It is sad to hear…your maize has been sold to the town people who voted for PF and there is no such hunger in towns as compared to the villages. I don’t really have mercy on them, let them learn now. This is the right time for them to learn to make proper choices in life. Fweni bane…

  90. Since Rupiah Banda became the president of Zambia:

    1. Salaries of Mps, cabinet ministers and himself where increased

    2. Over 300 miners or more have lost there jobs (Kansanshi Mine to axe 298 jobs)

    3.Unza & CBU tuition fees have been increased

    4. for the first time in about five years Zambia has a no Bumper harvest

    5.The price of mealie has sored

    6. The kwacha has depreciated

    7. Inflation is 19%

    8.He has invited Plunderers back Eg Xavier is back Chilu Free

    Zambians, this is just the begining of the worst to come i can bet on that

    Quick Reply

    Filed under: Rupiah Banda | Post Points: 5 🙂

  92. To wish us ill is to shoot one’s foot. If the villager is hungry, he will run to town and start shouting Pabwatoo, scrounging to make ends meet no job to feel his longing. Anger and bitterness in his heart he shouts Pabwatoo, an imaginary boat he hopes will take him to paradise.

  93. We need to provide civic education to the chiefs, and we need to introduce a law that should punish chiefs if they force their subjects to vote under duress for politicians who are just there to take advantage of them. god bless Zambia.

  95. Us Zambians like to laugh at each other so much. It is the same in every Zambian community overseas. If we could work together and stop pulling each other down I think we would make progress. Right now we need to work together and find a solution to this hunger situation. Our country is in a mess and the question is how can we help. We in the diaspora should start donating to some of these villagers. Its not thier fault that they have found themselves in this situation.

  96. No one should be condemned for voting the way they did, in a democratic country you have the right to make your own choice and after all those voted into power use our tax payers money meaning everyone is intitled to everything. Even that old woman in the village pays tax when she buys soap in a kantemba. So for you to say they should suffer because they did not vote for this one is wrong because it’s like denying them their right. It’s only that many politicians do not want poor zambians to know that fact because they can start demanding.

  97. TODAY IT IS FLOODS CAUSING HUNGER, TOMORROW ITS DROUGHT. NEXT TIME IT WILL BE BRITISH IMPERIALISM OR IS IT GORDON BROWN??? AFRICA,WHAT IS THE PROBLEM??? INCOMPETENCE,GREED,NEPOTISM.
    TELL ME ANOTHER ONE.. 8->

  98. “Mr. Mooya’s anger follows remarks by Mr. Sichilima on MUVI TV News that poisonous wild fruits and roots could prove to be a good energizer for hunger stricken villagers in moomba constituency.In a walk in interview with MUVI TV News, Mr. Mooya has charged that the deputy Minister is in a wrong institution and described the remarks as an insult.He says hunger in his constituency is not a joking nor a laughing matter but that of life and death.”

    Source: ww w. muvitv. com/ news/ Dec2008/ 9thcnews1. html

  99. its funny how clueless the so called “enlightened” people can be-people who are educated and priviledged enough to use this medium yet ignorant enough to fail to comprehend why villagers in shang’ombo sell their vote for a chitenge!!an educated man is most dangerous when ignorant.ww2,current global economic crisis etc will show you why.instead of romanticising your meagre education and posting ill-informed comments,invest your time in understanding the underlying factors behind poverty in Zambia and be part of the critical mass our country needs to effect change.

  102. The Villagers can not even see what you are discussing on-line so they can defend themselves.

    In the same manner, the government has been using “ghost voters” in villages, because they do not have any means to defend themselves even in the light of inflated election results.

    Zambia, Africa twasebane. If you don’t you have smarter ways to rig elections, how can you have the knowledge to develop the nation? MMD government will never improve rural lives, lest technology enlightens these innocent villagers to know the truth, which will put government out of power…!

  103. Its time that Zambians woke up RB should be very careful with his goverment,he used the ingnorance of villergers to gain votes.What he should understand is that children of God are being born in hungery villergs and God does not condone hypocrites,let him deliver food for he will be judged accordingly.If i where him i would seek the counsel of the Lord to lead a great nation like Zambia,i only pray that he knows what he is doing befor the ruth of God comes upon him.
    May God bless Zambia and let his mighty hand lead the nation,for the bible says Jesus came so we have life and life in abundance(john 10ver 10).I tell you the children of God (zambians)will have life and will have it abundantly.

  104. Zambians, you must have pushed for RB to form a government of national unity with the major opposition, making Sata his vice president.
    I wonder how R.Banda feels comfortable to rule with a mere 1% inflated election victory.

    His hunger for power will spell doom for Zambia, or he has to wake-up and be wise…! We all know their is nothing like an olive branch in African politics, to be extended to opposition parties not in power.

  105. Respected NO.99. It is not that people do not understand the reasons villagers die of hunger…but villages have got too much power to influence who should rule zambia and so let them die hard to survive. there is no other education we can give to villagers; reality will surely educate them. in this case starving to death will educate them to choose wisely…

  106. If we address rural poverty, we will have solved half the problem of poverty in Zambia.In years gone by rural areas provided food for urban areas but today the scenario is different.Let that peasant farmer be able to grow his food and sell the surplus. :(:((:-?:)>-

  107. We have a government that is always pushing its own agenda. Like celebrating their Victory having parties every Weekend (In night clubs with the first lady, maybe that is were she come from). The government should come out and tell the nation how they plan to handle this world economic meltdown. Can some one come with suggetions for the government how they should tackle it? Atleast when they come out of the night club they will have some suggetions on how they will save the situation. We should not be happy when people are dying of hunger just because they are on the other side. Where is UBUNTU?

  109. Yesssssssssss let these villagers die to death. I dont care cos they are very very annoying, voting for RB government! shame. Let these villagers resort to roots as their food. Good, good. I am having my normal life here and mum is here with me.

  110. It`s not true. There is no poverty in Zambia. I wont believe until I see I physically see a villager die. That will put a smile on my face. For now bufi They still have Chibuku, ifitenge, Tu Honda na sugar they got before elections. Those things just do not finish that easily do they?

    I have to go and get some breakfast. Banya bamambala.

    Ho Ho Ho.

  111. RB is always sleeping and is not aware of the happenings in the rural areas where he allegedly got most of his support. I can’t blame him coz he is busy trying to satisfy a young girl and is always high on viagra.By the way,where is the cheap fertiliZer.

  113. Voters did all they could do to oust MMD. RB is in State House because the opposition Sata and HH are greedy. They split the No-MMD votes. The Yes-MMD votes from villagers were out-numbered by the urban No-MMD votes. If Sata and HH agreed to work together, they would be in power right now, with Sata as president and HH his vice. I just wonder how much better off rural people would have been at this point in time. Remember, the No-MMD votes out-numbered the Yes-MMD Votes. But the ever selfish Sata and HH spoiled it all for the voters. This will continue unless the opposition burry their greed. But will they? How can we blame voters?

  114. Tabalati, let them eat sugar and fitenge. MMD is popular in rural areas so let the villgers pay for their action. Mulelapila :d

  115. yes you were so stuped how can you vote for huger eat the huger as in town we are ok cotinug eating posons roots you die like that you are the some peple who were on for front for mmd with chiteges eat vitnges.
    muka nyela mibisi

  116. UK Zed observer – spot on! lets not blame the rural folks. My only concern is because of SATA and HH’s power hungriness, MMD continues in power with its lack of leadership and direction. 17 years in power including a peiods of massive bumper harvests and high copper prices, and we still sit here debating and apportioning blame for such stories. 🙁

  117. Quote from the BBC 09.12.08 “To participate in the Homeless World Cup, players must be currently or recently homeless, an asylum seeker, in drug or alcohol rehabilitation or a street newspaper vendor.

    This year’s men’s event was won by Afghanistan, while Zambia took the inaugural women’s cup.”

    At least as a result of MMDs directless policies we are winning cups. :d/

  118. how many assessments are they going to make??? lets not castigate the brothers and sisters in the rural areas but find ways of educating them on current affairs to enable them to make an informed decision when casting votes.

    these are the most vulnerable people in the country and are always subjected to manipulative urban political cats with all sorts of crap. :o:o

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