By Robert Nayeja
NSANJE-(MANA)-President Lazarus Chakwera has assured people in the Lower Shire that his administration will make Shire Valley a food basket, and he has pledged to continue with the construction of Shire Valley Transformation project which assures vast irrigation farming for sustainable food security.
Chakwera made the assurance on Tuesday at Bangula Trading Center in Nsanje during a whistle stop tour which also took him to Chikwawa.
The President said once the Shire Valley Transformation Project is completed, issues of hunger will be history in the Shire Valley and surrounding districts.
He further assured people of continuous food security as the area under irrigation in Chikwawa expects to harvest thousands metric tons of maize and rice.
“We have also procured 200 thousand metric tons of maize for distribution to ease hunger in some parts of the country”, added Chakwera.
He also assured those that did not have access to National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) loans that they will have access to the package, saying this is another way of economically empowering low income earners to venture into small scale businesses for sustainable livelihood.
“We want to turn NEEF into a bank so that it should save people better, added the President and pledged that his government will open Tsogolo Account to all children in the country for meaningful child care and growth”.
Speaking earlier at Bangula, Senior Chief Chimombo asked Chakwera to provide relief food assistance to the people in the district following worrisome food situation.
Chakwera was on whistle stop campaign rallies in Nsanje where he engaged registered voters, asking them to vote him into power alongside MCPs aspiring parliamentary candidates and ward councilors ahead of September 16 elections.
