Hungry households decry floods in Mzimba North

Floods caused by three days of heavy rains have this week devastated vast fields of maize, tobacco and other crops in Mzimba North, traditionally considered a food basket for Mzuzu, Mzimba and Rumphi.

The relentless rains left Kasito River swelling beyond its banks, leaving behind a fast-running gush of water that hit several villages downstream .

Group village head Banana of Chiskombe, said hundreds of citizens will face another spate of hunger if the rains continue falling at the rate witnessed since Monday.

The affected villages include Bwengu, Wilikani, Banana, Malonje, Nthangwanika and Njakwa.

Mzimba North member of Parliament(MP) (People’s Party) Agnes Nyalonje, who last year donated maize seed and fertliser to flood victims, said the poor and the hungry could be the worst hit by the potential food disaster.

Agriculture extension development coordinator Patrick Kanyika said maize was the worst hit by the floods, which had affected almost 333 farmers and 124 hectares by last week. n