|
|
|
|
| National |
| Mussa sounds SOS on hunger |
|
by
Herbert Chandilanga, 04 October 2005
-
06:36:22
|
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Uladi Mussa on Sunday appealed to organisations to assist government avert the hunger affecting 4.2 million people through donations.
Mussa made the appeal in Mangochi on Sunday when he represented President Bingu wa Mutharika at a function where Mehbub Islamic Centre donated to villagers maize flour, wheel chairs, bicycle ambulances and other relief items all estimated at K50 million kwacha.
He said government would like to see organisations that can help it handle crucial issues like poverty and HIV and Aids.
“The centre has done well towards in helping those starving. Most of the items donated here will go a long way in assisting the less privileged like widows and orphans,” he said and thanked the centre for taking the initiative to mitigate people’s suffering.
Director of the Centre Abdul Hamid asked Mussa and other dignitaries who included Trade and Private Sector Development Minister Martin Kansichi, Minister responsible for People with Disabilities Clement Chiwaya and Gender and Child Welfare Minister Joyce Banda to help the centre compile a list of chiefs in the country’s districts to help strategise on how other areas would also access similar relief items.
“I am part of the Malawian society and I feel obliged to help others. It is what God wants of us,” he said.
Chiwaya, who is also MP for the area, said he knew his subjects were facing hunger and that it was a situation that required leaders to come together to provide solutions.
“Some of the people gathered here have come from as far as 15 kilometres to get a share of the items. This shows the magnitude of the food shortage,” said Chiwaya.
Earlier, Banda said it was time people put aside their political affiliations and concentrated on strategies on how their suffering subjects could access food.
“Take the example of honourable Chiwaya and the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Jafali Mussa who, besides belonging to the UDF, have worked with the government in development efforts,” she said.
About 22,000 people from 15 surrounding villages were expected to benefit from the donation from the centre, named in memorial of Hamid’s son who died in a car crash near the site. It was opened in 1989 to offer free primary and literacy education apart from the Islamic studies.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
