Drought disaster

KABANDA CHULU
Lusaka
WITH over one million hectares of planted crops expected to be destroyed this farming season, President Hakainde Hichilema yesterday declared the continued dry spells an emergency and national disaster.
The President has since directed the Zambia defence forces to be fully involved in food production and further called upon cooperating partners, local or international, to offer food, finance or other support that they may have in order to provide the needed relief.
The drought being experienced could be the worst in the country’s history since 1991/92 when the new administration of President Frederick Chiluba had to bring in yellow maize.
Addressing the nation yesterday, the President said the drought, caused by the El Niño, will have devastating consequences on many critical sectors such as agriculture, water availability, and energy supply and risking the national food security and livelihoods of millions of Zambians…https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home