The UPND has alleged that the PF is using hunger as a weapon of war so that they can have easily intimidated, hungry voters in 2021.

The party has also questioned the country’s food security following restrictions being set by the FRA to have only one bag of maize purchased per household.

In a statement, Wednesday, UPND chairman for agriculture, food and water development Levy Ngoma stated that government’s refusal to declare a humanitarian crisis of food shortage was an act of criminality.

“The PF’s persistent refusal to declare a humanitarian crisis of food shortages in the country is not only an act of criminality, but is also a weapon of war against poor and hungry people. Mr Edgar Lungu and the PF intend flaunting food as a typical stick and carrot match to intimidate hungry people to vote for them in 2021. Food is a fundamental human right and any government that denies its people this critical right is guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity as such decisions affect the most of society such as children and the elderly,” Ngoma charged.

“Mr Edgar Lungu and the PF have already caused untold trauma and misery to the population because of a broken down economy which has failed to provide essential drugs in hospitals and affordable food on their tables. Let them not worsen the situation by refusing to declare a national disaster in order for aid to flow from local and foreign donors. The magnitude of the problem at hand is daunting and dire and requires international intervention because the PF simply have no capacity as the FRA silos cannot adequately mitigate the humanitarian crisis that is on our doorstep.”

And Ngoma questioned the country’s food security following restrictions being set by the FRA to have only one bag of maize purchased per household.

“We wonder why the PF through Inonge Wina has persistently indicated that the country is food secure with the government on top of things when hunger is written on the wall. Why is the Food Reserve Agency rationing maize selling to the people at one by 50 kilogram per household if the country is food secure as the PF wants us to believe,” asked Ngoma.

“Foreign donors and governments can only qualify to access their tax payers’ money if the affected government declares a humanitarian crisis. Our Zimbabwean neighbors who face a similar problem have declared a Food Emergency call out to the international community and aid is now flowing. What then is wrong with the PF government?”