Stung by hunger due to drought in the last farming season, traditional leaders in Mwenezi have called on government to give them farming inputs to improve the Zunde Ramambo concept aimed at averting food shortages in the district.
Zunde Ramambo is a traditional intervention whereby the chief oversees the production of crops and collection of yields for communal consumption in times of need. Chief Chitanga of Mwenezi said the situation in his area is dire and government must intervene by providing inputs on time so that planting can be done soon after the first rains.
“People in rural areas are suffering, particularly here in
Chitanga, and we want the government to provide inputs on time so we can help feed our people,” he said.
Last month, the Meteorological Services Department forecast that the southern parts of the country would be severely hit by drought in the2012-13 farming season.