ZAMBIA and Malawi are expected operationalise a presidential agreement that will see 200,000 metric tonnes of maize exported to Malawi as both nations deepen cooperation on food security and regional resilience.
Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane met his Malawian counterpart Joseph Mwanamveka on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings, where the two reaffirmed their commitment to expedite the arrangements through the relevant sector structures.
The initiative follows a bilateral understanding reached between President Hakainde Hichilema and his Malawian counterpart, President Professor Arthur Mutharika, during their recent summit engagement.
Dr Musokotwane used the opportunity to share Zambia’s recent experience in confronting one of the country’s worst droughts in living memory during the 2023/2024 farming season.
“Through a Cabinet-led, coordinated approach, our goal was to ensure that no Zambian died of hunger,” Dr Musokotwane said.
He said by realigning the national budget and securing partner support, Government expanded social cash transfers, launched a ‘Cash for Work’ programme for vulnerable citizens and implemented targeted relief measures that protected livelihoods across the country.
The minister noted that the Government’s national action plan, partially supported by a World Bank grant of over US$200 million and additional partner funding, provided food and cash assistance to 1.6 million households in drought-affected districts.
“The response was coordinated through the Drought Disaster and Emergency Response Team, working in partnership with the United Nations, World Bank and civil society organisations,” he said.
Through the appropriate agencies in both countries, the two ministers agreed to convene an emergency intergovernmental meeting in Chipata in the coming days to finalise contractual, logistical and policy arrangements for the maize exports.
Dr Musokotwane said Zambia’s recovery and support to its neighbours reflects Government’s broader commitment to regional solidarity, food security and resilience-building.
“When our neighbours face difficulty, we stand together. Our experience reminds us that unity, preparedness and compassion are as vital as rainfall itself,” he said.
And Mr Mwanamveka expressed the Malawian Government’s interest in continuing to engage Zambia in agricultural development.
“This is with a view to exchanging information, especially related to how you (Zambia) managed to swiftly reverse the food shortage effects of the drought into a historical bumper harvest,” he said.
This is according to a statement issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Treasury.
