Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati has issued a call to action for individuals, non-governmental organizations, and the corporate world to step forward and assist those facing hunger in different parts of the country.

During a visit to Mulanje, where a company named Open Spaces made a generous donation of bags of maize and K15 million in cash to the community under Traditional Authority Juma, Kaliati praised the efforts of Open Spaces and acknowledged that government aid alone is not enough to reach all those in need.

The minister also urged the community to report any instances of elder abuse or witchcraft accusations, while Open Spaces Director Mwachumu Chipala stated their goal to assist more than 700 elderly people in the area through the donation.

The Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee report states that 3.8 million people, or 20% of the country’s population, face hunger during the lean season between November 2022 and March 2023.