Cisanet Commends Government for Declaring State of National Disaster

By: Lackson Kanyoza

Civil Society Agriculture Network (Cisanet) commended the government for coming up openly and declaring The National Disaster.

Following the prolonged drought during the 2015/16 agriculture season, President Peter Mutharika yesterday declared Malawi a National Disaster.

According to a press statement, the president said the severe crop failure was worse in the Southern Region and parts of the Central Region. The projected drop in maize harvest is estimated at 12 percent lower than last year’s output, according to second round crop estimates.

Mutharika has since appealed for humanitarian relief assistance from the international community, United Nations (UN) agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the private sector as well as citizens of goodwill to reduce the suffering among those affected by the food shortages.

However, principal secretary for Cisanet Tamani Nkhono has since commended the development saying this will open a platform for the international community to support the  Malawi government.

“It’s not too late for the president to declare a national disaster, all of us knew that we had a prolonged dry spell. It’s commendable because the development partners and NGOs will openly come to help us.

The declaration is very significant since it will trigger the international community to release the necessary funds to help Malawian people who are worst affected,” said Nkhono.

President Peter Mutharika’s administration has for the second time in under a year has declared Malawi a National Disaster.

However, over 3 Million Malawians are expected to face hunger next year due to irregular rainfalls across the country.