There’s hunger among my people – Chief Kathumba
By Mast Reporter
CHIEF Kathumba of the Chewa people of Sinda and Katete districts in Eastern Province says hunger among his subjects is worrying.
Chief Kathumba said in an interview at the weekend people his subjects had participated in the 2024/2025 farming season but the poor rainfall experienced in the area had disappointed them.
He said the poor rainfall pattern affected growth and the yields of their crop causing the hunger situation many families were experiencing.
“Kuli njala cifukwa dela imene ino kwina alibe kudya dobe yamoyo, telo makhalidwe niyovuta. Takhala ninkhawa kuti kapena zinthu zikhale bwanji [there is hunger because in this area some never even tasted fresh maize. So, we are worried how things and life will be. This are difficult here. We are worried with how things will be],” he said.
Chief Kathumba said the Department of Agriculture and the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) were going round to ascertain the extent of the hunger situation, urging them to do it fast before people go into desperation.
” Tipempha Boma kuti aja omwe acita kafukufuku monga a DMMU kuti acite ncito yabwino pofika madela komwe njala niyozama [We ask government to those doing survey especially the DMMU to do a good job in assessing hunger situation in my chiefdom],” he said.
The traditional leader appealed to government not to sideline his chiefdom in the distribution of relief food, saying the situation was critical.
“Let DMMU do the right thing so that government doesn’t leave us out. The hunger situation which has hit my chiefdom is real and worrying,” he said.
And Chief Khatumba expressed concern over the decision by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to demand 10 bags from the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) beneficiaries to be sold to the agency.
“Now government says all those that benefited from FISP should sell their produce to FRA and our concern and worry is that some planted the seed, applied fertiliser but the rains did not do a good job such that they have only managed to get little for their home consumption while others have harvested literally nothing, now what are they going to take to FRA?” he said.
