Bushiri Takes Lead in Food Aid Response, Urges Political Parties to Join

Prophet Shepherd Bushiri of the Enlightened Christian Gathering has urged political parties to unite and provide a timely response to 1.1 million people expected to be food-insecure due to floods this year.

A statement from Shepherd Bushiri Foundation quotes Bushiri as speaking in response to a recently released report by Southern African Development Community Region Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis Programme.

The report indicates that 1.1 million people would face hunger between October and 2019 and March 2020 with 676,000 in food shortage.

“The prophet, who is Chairperson of Shepherd Bushiri Foundation, has since taken a lead in response and announced he will resume free maize distribution exercise to the affected families in December,” the statement reads.

This year, heavy rains and floods affected over 800,000 people and killed 60.

Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee is finalising its food situation report in the wake of the disasters.

Last year, the committee said 3.3 million people were food-insecure but the figures are likely to rise this year.

The government’s spokesperson, Mark Botomani, said relief items distribution exercise is always informed by data and not political party colours.

“I cannot comment on specific contents of the statement you are talking about because I have not seen it but the government looks after all its people irrespective of their political colours, tribes or regions,” he said.