KING: OVER 159 000 SWAZIS STILL REQUIRE FOOD SUPPORT

LOBAMBA – His Majesty King Mswati III said the country will endure yet another year of food shortages.

The King said this was according to comparisons made which show that food shortage will persist with over 159 000 Swazis requiring food support. He said despite recording a significant increase in maize yield of over 252 per cent, about 84 344 metric tonnes (MT), the country’s national requirement was 120 000 MT. His Majesty, who is also the Patron of Esicojeni Foundation, said the hunger situation could not be tolerated in Swaziland. Speaking through Prince David following the 5km End Hunger Walk 2017, His Majesty said concerted efforts to jointly end hunger and create a hunger free Swaziland by 2022 were essential. The King said the End Hunger Walk was one of the initiatives the Foundation used to raise money to improve food security in the country. His Majesty said through the participation of the public and companies in the walk, financial resources were provided to the Foundation. His Majesty said the Foundation had over the years invested in various food security initiatives and supported vulnerable children meet their daily food requirements with targeted household rations.

He said children have also been fed in the community soup kitchens and Neighbourhood Care Points (NCPs), further providing for school and community gardens. “We have structures in government to help us address this challenge in the Ministry of Agriculture, SWADE, and Disaster Management Department within the Deputy Prime Minister’s office, the National Disaster Management Authority and many others.” The King said over the last 11 years, he had sanctioned Esicojeni Foundation to lead a national initiative to end hunger. He said Esicojeni Foundation also noted the centrality of water as a means of directly supporting the agriculture initiatives while indirectly supporting the health of communities through daily consumption of clean water. “I am excited to note that today we are marking the 11th End Hunger Walk and you have responded very well as a nation.” The King said thanked corporate sponsors who had given various amounts from E5 000 to E150 000. He said Esicojeni raised money through corporate sponsorship. He encouraged the corporate sponsors to aspire to achieve the status of platinum sponsorship who gave a minimum of E100 000 per year. Further, he appreciated this year’s platinum sponsors; Swazi MTN, Standard Bank, Galp and Letshego for their great support.

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