By Chisomo Phiri
Vice President Jane Ansah has called for strict accountability and transparency in the distribution of lean-season maize, warning authorities against any form of favouritism.
Ansah made the remarks on Friday at Kavitowe Primary School grounds in Mzimba, where she launched the 2025/26 Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme for the Northern Region.
The VP stressed that president Arthur Peter Mutharika expects the relief programme to reach all Malawians facing hunger, without political bias or selective targeting.
She noted that the combined impacts of drought, rising living costs, and economic challenges have pushed many households into severe food insecurity.
“Government does not want any Malawian to die of hunger, hence the decision to distribute maize,” she said.
Ansah urged district councils to strengthen oversight mechanisms and to ensure that vulnerable groups such as child-headed households, persons with albinism, and the elderly are prioritised.
She further appealed to development partners to scale up their support to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), observing that the institution is facing a K147 billion funding gap. So far, government has mobilised only K62 billion toward the national response.
On his part,DoDMA Commissioner Wilson Moleni said the government is assisting four million Malawians following Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee findings confirming widespread hunger.
He explained that while some beneficiaries will receive maize, others will be supported with a cash transfer of K90,000.
In his remarks,World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director Hyoung-Joon Lim reaffirmed WFP’s commitment to working with Malawi to eliminate hunger and strengthen long-term food security.
Paramount Chief Mmbelwa commended the government for the timely intervention, noting that hunger has become a growing challenge for many communities.
