News Center- On Thursday, Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema said in a televised national address from Lusaka that Zambia declared a national disaster and emergency due to the lack of rain that has devastated the agricultural sector, affecting more than one million families.

Hakainde Hichilema also said Zambia’s situation was dire and called on its official and private creditors to quickly conclude its debt restructuring process.

“With heavy hearts, we’ve declared a national disaster & emergency as our country faces severe drought, caused by the el Niño weather phenomenon, influenced by climate change. The prolonged dry spell has impacted both Zambia’s food & energy security that are our key priorities,” Hakainde Hichilema said on X.

On February 20, the Zambian government announced a restriction on the export of maize and mealie meal (maize flour) due to a prolonged dry spell that could affect the harvest.