Private sector urged to assist flash floods victims

Namwala Member of Parliament of Southern Province, Moono Mapani, has appealed to more private businesses to join in efforts to provide support to the flood victims.

This is after families affected by flash floods in Southern Province’s Bweengwa and Namwala districts received relief aid from Zambeef Products and other partners.

The aid included mealie meal, flour, cooking oil, assorted foodstuff, and other essential items such as chlorine.

Reacting to this gesture which took place in Southern Province recently, Mapani said government had been urging the private sector to come on board to help us ease the effects of these floods.

“Government has been urging the private sector to come on board to help us ease the effects of these floods. We as the local leadership cannot manage alone and need further assistance to ensure this problem is curtailed.

“Therefore, this gesture shows that the company does not only focus on profit-making but also supporting local communities,” he said.

And Namwala District Commissioner, who is also in charge of disaster management in the area, Ephraim Shandavu said the flash floods that lasted for close to five days.

Shandavu said the flash floods had led to the loss of property, homes and hade caused other devastating effects in the two districts.

“We have been in a terrible situation since the floods started. Farming activities have been halted because maize fields have been destroyed and many small-scale farmers have lost their livestock. Even schools and clinics have collapsed,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Zambeef Corporate Affairs executive, Ezekiel Sekele, explained that the company was concerned with the effects of the devastating floods have had on rural communities and thus decided to intervene.

He noted that management remained committed to uplifting the living standards of people in its area of operations which is reflected in the company’s policy of buying most of its cattle from rural farmers.

“The company’s growth is rooted in the community hence we thought it necessary to support the affected households by providing them with critical supplies, Sekele said, among others.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.