adminLackson Munkombwe Sunday News Reporter
THE Government has revived the Food for Work programme among villagers in Binga as it seeks to feed thousands of families facing hunger in the district. Binga District Administrator Mrs Lydia Banda said the Food for Work programme was set to help many villagers since it has emerged that at least 75 percent of the households were facing food shortages.
“Food for work will serve a lot of people in the district,” said Mrs Banda. “The initiative is aimed at helping everyone who can work. We have realised that a lot of people in rural areas do not work and they do not have any means to get money to buy food. The food for work initiative will therefore include everyone in the communities so that they can raise money to buy food.”
She said villagers will be tasked to work in places that are strategic in developing their communities.
“The programme is targeting able-bodied individuals who are jobless. The Government has indicated that it is wise to recruit these people to undertake community jobs after which they are paid in cash to buy food,” said Mrs Banda. She said villagers will also get maize, and other food handouts to cater for travel expenses.
“We have a challenge that goods are expensive in rural areas. So it will also be a blow for people to be travelling to other places to buy food. The idea is for Government to avail food stuffs so that villagers can buy in their localities,” Mrs Banda said.
She added that the Social Welfare Department has been assisting disadvantaged people including the disabled and old people with food. In addition, the Government has indicated that no one will die of hunger and has stepped up efforts to import more grain.
derick.khumalo