VIOLET MENGO

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

 

ZAMBIA’s ambassador to Zimbabwe Ng’ona Mwelwa Chibesakunda says crop diversification which government has embarked on remains key to Zambia’s food security amid climate change challenges.

 

Mr Chibesakunda said in an interview here that with diversification, it is unlikely for the country to experience food insecurity as there will be abundance of different crops to sustain people.

 

He said Zambia has been fortunate in the region to receive enough rainfall in some parts of the country that has helped the country to stock enough maize and export some.

 

“For Zimbabwe as you are aware for two years now, the country has had very little rainfall as a result very little maize has been grown, but Zambia has been luck that one part of the country had enough rain and produced a lot of maize which we are now exporting to some countries like Zimbabwe,” Mr Chibesakunda said.

 

The ambassador said conference like the climate change taking place here are very important for Africa because they help to address critical challenges such the shortage of rainfall in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique and Botswana.

 

He said it is from such gathering that solutions to difficulties countries are facing are found as ideas are floated by delegates that offer solution and hope.

 

“In some parts of Zambia where we do not have enough rainfall, conferences like this will help by coming up with ideas of what type of crops to grow. It gives us time to reflect on whether to continue growing maize which requires a lot of rainfall or switch to other types of crops,” he said.

 

Mr Chibesakunda said with diversification, the nutrition status of the people is improved and enhanced.

 

He said nutrition is mainly concerned with what type of food to grow. “If for example we depend on maize, surely we can also grow other crops that are drought resistant like sorghum and millet.”

He said crops like cassava and millet do not need long period of rain can also be encouraged to enhance people’s nutrition.

 

Mr Chibesakunda said he is impressed with the attendance of Zambian experts at the conference because it the experts that advises government on most critical pertaining to the development of the country.

 

And the ambassador said Zambians living in Zimbabwe are happy with government coming up with the diaspora policy.

Zambia's ambassador to Zimbabwe, third from right with the Zambian delegation members at the climate  change and development conference that took place from 28th to 31 October 2015
 

 

He said many Zambians have expressed interest in returning to Zambia to help develop the country following government’s call to Zambian living in diaspora to take part in the development.

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