• FRA wishes to refute allegations made by EFF Leader that the Agency had run out of maize in Chisamba District.
• Chisamba District is food secure and there is still plenty of maize in the area more than enough for vulnerable households.
• Government has already indicated proactive response mechanisms to address the current situation.

Food Reserve Agency (FRA) says Chisamba district is food secure as it currently has 78,732 by 50 kilogram bags of maize, contrary to assertions by some stakeholders that the area has run out of the commodity.

In a statement, Agency Public Relations Coordinator, John Chipandwe explained that Central Province has a total of 413,297 by 50 kilogram bags of maize all being stored in FRA storage facilities.

Mr. Chipandwe therefore refuted claims by Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Leader Kasonde Mwenda, and described the assertions as false, irresponsible and dangerous.

“FRA wishes to refute allegations made by Economic Freedom Fighters Leader Kasonde Mwenda on Friday, 29^th March 2024 where he claimed that the Agency had run out of maize in Chisamba District and that hunger was deepening in the area.”

“The Agency wishes to state that Chisamba District is food secure and that there is still plenty of maize in the area more than enough for vulnerable households,” Mr. Chipandwe stated.

He explained that as the country approaches the harvest period, some households will be able to retain some quantities of crops for household food security despite the drought.

Mr. Chipandwe further said on mopping up local maize stocks, the Agency contracted commercial farmers who have since started delivering the early maize crop.

“Government has also already indicated proactive response mechanisms to address the current situation, some of which include importation of maize to ensure the country continues to be food secure.”

“If it is true that the Agency has run out of maize, how is it possible that Zambia Correctional Service and Zambia National Service are currently collecting maize for milling into affordable mealie meal that is being offloaded daily on the local market countrywide? How is it also possible that the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit is currently collecting maize from FRA and distributing to vulnerable families in rural areas?, he wondered.

He reiterated that the Agency has re-strategized, intensified the Community Sales programme and is currently conducting the programme in 84 districts.

“Maize is also being released to Ministry of Education for the Home Grown School Feeding Programme, to boarding schools and hospitals just to mention but a few.  All these programmes would have stopped if there was no maize,” he added.

Mr. Chipandwe urged members of the public, especially those aspiring for political office to be responsible and factual when commenting on sensitive matters such as food security as reckless statements have a potential to cause civil unrest.