Malawi Vice President Launches Lean Season Food Support Programme

By Smile Hamilton Malawi

Vice President Dr Jane Ansah on Friday presided over the official launch of the 2025/26 Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme for the Northern Region, reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting vulnerable families during the difficult months ahead.

The launch took place at Kavitowe Primary School in Mzimba, where hundreds of community members, traditional leaders and government officials gathered to witness the rollout of the initiative. Dr Ansah said the government is determined to act early to prevent hunger. “We know the lean season brings hardship, and we are here to ensure that every vulnerable household receives support on time,” she said.

She stressed that the programme goes beyond food distribution, highlighting its focus on building long-term resilience. “Our ambition is not just to respond to hunger, but to help communities become self-reliant through improved farming and stronger safety nets,” Dr Ansah added.

Officials from the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) echoed her remarks, saying the programme is targeting the most affected households. DoDMA representative Hastings Chabwera said, “This year we have prioritised districts that experienced low yields due to erratic rainfall. Our teams are ready to start distribution immediately.”

Traditional leaders from Mzimba praised the initiative and called for continued collaboration between the government and communities. Senior Group Village Headman Kavitowe said, “This support will bring relief to many families. We encourage the government to keep engaging us so that development programmes can succeed.”

Some community members who attended the ceremony also expressed gratitude and hope. One beneficiary, Mary M’bwana, said, “This food

support means a lot to us. The past season was tough, and this help will carry us through the hardest months.”