President Joyce Banda has dismissed accusations that her government was exaggerating the food crisis in the country.

Speaking at a rally she addressed at Chilonga Primary School at Nkando Trading Centre in Mulanje where she also distributed maize flour to people affected by shortage of food in the area, Banda said the entire country is facing food shortages.

She said it was because of this that she is going around distributing maize flour to alleviate the problem.

This comes after Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources David Luka told The Daily Times that the hunger situation was being overblown.

Without disputing Luka claim that there is enough maize in the national reserves, President Banda argued that she cannot allow the country to deplete the reserves before asking for assistance from well wishers.

“We should be honest with ourselves; the hunger problem has affected all areas in the country.

“Nobody will stop me from giving people food handouts because as president this is my responsibility,” said President Banda.

Banda said she would continue to give the maize flour to all vulnerable people across the country and urged other privileged individuals and companies to do the same.

The president also dismissed calls that she reveals the source of the maize and flour she has been distributing.

“Why are people busy asking me where I am getting the maize instead of just doing the same. This is my maize flour and nobody should bother me,” she said.

President Banda has so far refused to reveal her maize sources in principle of transparency and is following in the steps of her predecessors who used to snide critics in such a way.