By Suleman Chitera
The government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting vulnerable households in Nkhata Bay District from hunger through the ongoing distribution of relief maize under the 2025/26 Lean Season Response Programme.
Nkhata Bay District Commissioner, David Kayiwonanga Gondwe, made the assurance at Chintheche in the area of Senior Chief Malanda during a monitoring exercise of the lean season maize distribution. During the exercise, 915 food-insecure households received a 50-kilogramme bag of maize for the month of January.
Gondwe said the government, through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), is determined to ensure that all 10,664 households identified as food insecure in the district receive the assistance over the planned three-month period.
“I am impressed with the progress of the exercise so far. At all the centres we have visited, there is order and adequate security, and this must continue until the programme is completed,” said Gondwe.
He assured beneficiaries that every targeted household under the 2025/26 Lean Season Response Programme will receive its allocation, stressing that the government will not allow any household to suffer from hunger during the lean period.
According to Gondwe, the distribution has already been completed in several areas, including Senior Chief Mkumbira, Zilakoma Lower, Malengamzomba, Mndola and parts of Senior Chief Timbiri. He added that the exercise will soon be rolled out to all remaining areas across the district.
The District Commissioner further cautioned beneficiaries against selling the maize, emphasizing that the aid is strictly meant for household consumption to achieve its intended purpose of improving food security.
Senior Chief Malanda commended the District Commissioner for personally monitoring the exercise and pledged continued support from traditional leaders to ensure smooth distribution and adequate security.
“We will continue to work with government officials to make sure that the maize reaches the rightful beneficiaries and that peace and order are maintained throughout the exercise,” said Senior Chief Malanda.
One of the beneficiaries, Daisi Kaunda of Lisale Village, expressed gratitude for the timely intervention.
“We are thankful that the government has fulfilled its promise by providing maize in January. Our children will now have food at home after school. We hope this support will continue in the coming months,” she said.
The government, through DoDMA, is implementing the 2025/26 Lean Season Response Programme across all 28 districts and four cities, targeting more than four million food-insecure Malawians nationwide.
