Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika has denied the country is running out of maize despite a report that two people starved to death, and opposition claims that the government sold too much of its maize to Zimbabwe.
Wa Mutharika said late on Saturday the Southern African nation had enough maize to feed its people for a year, and accused the opposition of spreading lies.
"I promised Malawi to turn it into a hunger-free nation. I promised to turn Malawi from a net importer of food into a net exporter of food, and we have achieved this," he told the Farmers Union of Malawi.
"Even when we say there is food security, there will still be some people who will go hungry."
The independent Zodiak Radio station reported last week that two people died of hunger in the central town of Ntchisi. The deaths were later confirmed by authorities in the district.
Malawi, one of the poorest nations in the world, started rationing the sale of maize last week following a report in parliament that the country's stocks are dwindling as heavy flooding wiped out many crops.
The floods could ease expected economic growth of more than seven percent after years of strong expansion fuelled largely by good maize harvests, economic reforms and an increase in aid.
Malawi harvested 3.1 million tonnes of maize in the last planting season, its biggest in 10 years. The government exported 400,000 tonnes to neighbouring Zimbabwe, which is battling a chronic economic crisis.
U.N. agencies in the country estimate that a million or more people may need food aid as floods continue to destroy crop fields in 14 districts. About 72,000 people have been left homeless and six killed by flooding.
The main opposition Malawi Congress Party has accused the administration of selling off too much maize stock to Zimbabwe.
"We had warned the government not to sell 400,000 tonnes to Zimbabwe at our expense and now this is what is happening. We ask them to stop exporting with immediate effect," MCP President John Tembo said.
Sunday, 10 February 2008
Who/What/Wear: Old Crocs get new life in Malawi
The unofficial favorite footwear of kids (and many adults), Crocs now can escape the landfill when feet outgrow or overwork them.
Crocs has launched a recycling program called Soles United with a goal of collecting more than 2 million donated pairs of the cloglike resin shoes in 2008. They'll be ground into new material and remanufactured to provide some people around the world with their first-ever pair of shoes.
More than 1 million pairs already have been donated through the program. Last fall 20,000 pairs were sent to Raising Malawi, co-founded by Madonna and author Michael Berg to help children in the African country.
Consumers can donate Crocs (sorry, no knockoffs) at participating retailers, or send them to Crocs' collection centers. Check solesunited.com for details.
Crocs has launched a recycling program called Soles United with a goal of collecting more than 2 million donated pairs of the cloglike resin shoes in 2008. They'll be ground into new material and remanufactured to provide some people around the world with their first-ever pair of shoes.
More than 1 million pairs already have been donated through the program. Last fall 20,000 pairs were sent to Raising Malawi, co-founded by Madonna and author Michael Berg to help children in the African country.
Consumers can donate Crocs (sorry, no knockoffs) at participating retailers, or send them to Crocs' collection centers. Check solesunited.com for details.
SOUTHERN AFRICA: ERD responds to floods in Malawi, Zambia
Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is providing emergency assistance to communities in Malawi and Zambia affected by devastating flooding in the region. Torrential rains in southern Africa have swollen the Zambezi River to well above the flood limit while washing away entire villages and thousands of acres of crops.
The crisis along the Zambezi is going from bad to worse, impacting hundreds of thousands of people in the region, and more rain is expected. At least 50 people have died as a result of the floods. Tens of thousands have sought shelter or been relocated -- often more than once as places initially assumed to be safe are threatened by rising water.
ERD's partners in Zambia, Zambian Anglican Council (ZAC), and in Malawi, the Anglican Diocese of Southern Malawi, have been responding to the most severely affected areas. In Zambia, ZAC is providing food supplementation for people in temporary shelters. The Anglican Diocese of Southern Malawi is distributing food, sheltering material, medicine and fuel throughout its area of operation.
"Our partners are moving quickly to help the many thousands of people who have been impacted by flooding. They plan to be present in affected communities to assist in the replanting of the lost crops and help community members get their lives back on track," said Janette O'Neill, ERD's senior director for Africa Programs.
To help people affected in southern Africa, make a donation to ERD's "Emergency Relief Fund" online here, or by calling 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief and Development "Emergency Relief Fund" P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.
The crisis along the Zambezi is going from bad to worse, impacting hundreds of thousands of people in the region, and more rain is expected. At least 50 people have died as a result of the floods. Tens of thousands have sought shelter or been relocated -- often more than once as places initially assumed to be safe are threatened by rising water.
ERD's partners in Zambia, Zambian Anglican Council (ZAC), and in Malawi, the Anglican Diocese of Southern Malawi, have been responding to the most severely affected areas. In Zambia, ZAC is providing food supplementation for people in temporary shelters. The Anglican Diocese of Southern Malawi is distributing food, sheltering material, medicine and fuel throughout its area of operation.
"Our partners are moving quickly to help the many thousands of people who have been impacted by flooding. They plan to be present in affected communities to assist in the replanting of the lost crops and help community members get their lives back on track," said Janette O'Neill, ERD's senior director for Africa Programs.
To help people affected in southern Africa, make a donation to ERD's "Emergency Relief Fund" online here, or by calling 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief and Development "Emergency Relief Fund" P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.
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