Traditional Authority (T/A) Mbiza in Zomba district has pleaded with government and charitable organizations to come up with a quick response to the impending hunger in the area due to dry spell.

A visit by YFM in some villages in the area revealed that the maize crop in most fields has completely wilted due to the absence of rainfall.

Mbiza said: “The dry spell has hit us hard to the extent that even if the rains come today it will change nothing.

The local leader said crops such as maize, tobacco, pigeon peas have completely gone putting the lives of people at a risk of acute hunger.

Mbiza said the situation needs to be contained quickly before things get out of hand.

“My immediate request to the authorities is to ask for the timely distribution of free maize to the people,” he said.

The plea comes barely a week after Zomba District Agriculture Office released a report on January 16, 2018 which revealed that the dry spell has affected 76, 525 farm households from December 28, 2017.

The report further indicate that out of 24, 302 hectors of maize, 91 hectors have reached permanent wilting.

During a recent rally held at Lunzu Community Centre Ground in Blantyre, President Peter Mutharika promised that no person will die of hunger as the country has enough maize in stock to feed the affected families.