100 hectares of maize fields submerged

Over 100 hectares of maize fields have been submerged in Libonda ward of Liuwa constituency in Kalabo district of Western province.

In an interview with ZANIS, Libonda ward councillor, Musiyalela MUSIYALELA said about 1000 peasant farmers in the locality have been affected by the flash floods that have engulfed the whole ward in the constituency.

Mr Musiyalela said there is looming hunger in the ward as the affected peasant farmers only depended on maize growing as their staple food.

The civic leader said people in his ward are facing difficulties in accessing food to feed their families adding that their once source of livelihood which was fishing has been curtailed as government has imposed a fish ban in the province.

Mr Musiyalela said there is urgent need for government through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) to quicken the distribution of relief food in order to cushion the looming hunger before lives are lost in the ward.

And Mr. Kebby KABISA of Makono royal village said the unexpected bursting of the Zambezi River has caused havoc to many farmers in the Bulozi plains.

Mr Kabisa said peasant farmers in the area could not manage to salvage their crops as the flow of water from the mighty Zambezi River was unexpected. He said the most affected areas in the ward included Libonda Royal palace of Her Chieftaincy Mboanjikana, Namweti, Makono, Ikatulamwa, Mukola and Mwandi among others.