There is hunger in the Zambia, says NGOCC

There is hunger in the Zambia, says NGOCC

By Tony Nkhoma

IT IS evident enough that there is serious hunger in the country, the Non-governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has said.

NGOCC executive director Anne Mbewe-Anamela said Livingstone United Party for National Development (UPND) Mayor Constance Muleabai was not only irresponsible but her action to toss money to the public reflected lack of respect for human dignity.

Mbewe-Anamela expressed sadness that a 10-month-old baby had died in a stampede when hungry Livingstone residents jostled for money tossed at a crowd by Muleabai.

“We have also learned that this incident was caused by members of the public jostling for money, which was allegedly tossed to the crowd by Livingstone Mayor Ms Constance Muleabai. We would like to also take this opportunity to remind our leaders that leadership is a call to service with humility and respect for the citizenry, especially for the vulnerable,” Mbewe-Anamela said.

She said in a statement yesterday leaders were duty-bound to use existing governance structures to ensure resources were distributed fairly and equally among citizens and not through unconventional means.

She said the Livingstone incident was testament to the prevailing high poverty levels in the country and the challenges that families faced at personal and household levels.

“However, leaders should not take advantage of the citizenry’s vulnerabilities and treat them in dehumanising ways such as the Livingstone incident. This is not only irresponsible but reflects a lack of respect for human dignity,” Mbewe-Anamela said

She urged the relevant authorities and the Zambia Police Service, in particular, to take keen interest in the matter and ensure justice prevails for the 10-month-old baby.

“What compounds this situation is that a life has been lost in circumstances that could have been avoided,” Mbewe-Anamela said.

She demanded that all the people involved in the incident should face sanctions.

On April 27 a nine-month-old child was trampled to death in a stampede at a United Party for National Development (UPND) youth rally at Maramba Stadium in Livingstone.

The mayor has been roundly condemned for disrespect for the poor with many citizens calling for her prosecution for recklessly causing the child’s death.

Chaos erupted when the Livingstone Mayor, in a display of reckless arrogance, threw K10 notes into a desperate, hungry and starved crowd resulting in a serious panic and a stampede.