Lusaka Needs Strong Food Systems To Meet High Demand – Mayor

Lusaka Mayor has called for establishment of resilient, dynamic and sustainable food systems to respond to the high demand for food in the city caused by an increase in population.

Officiating at the Lusaka City Region Food System Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue in Lusaka, Chilando Chitangala observes that there are numerous opportunities that Lusaka can leverage to transform the city’s food systems and address many challenges that it is facing in ensuring sufficient food supply to residents.
Ms. Chitangala stated that strong collaborations and coordination among stakeholders, sustainable urban agriculture practices, development of robust policies and community empowerment in food systems knowledge and skills are needed to ensure sustainable food supply to the city.

She noted that with over 3.5million residents, Lusaka relies heavily on food imports from other towns, a situation that is not sustainable, therefore solutions must be found to recover the city from this dependency.

“This dependency means that our residents will continue to rely on external sources for their survival.”
“This situation is not sustainable and it is imperative that we work together to change it,” Ms. Chitangala stated.

And speaking during a panel discussion dubbed ‘Building Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Food Systems,” Chongwe Mayor, Christopher Habeenzu expressed worry that agriculture production space in the district is becoming limited because residents have opted to turn farm land into mixed use spaces.
Mr. Habeenzu noted that this practice is reducing production and supply of food to the district and the neighboring areas such as Lusaka.

Meanwhile, Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI) Executive Director, Chance Kabaghe who was represented by the Organization’s Researcher, Coillard Hamusimbi, stressed the need for the city to invest in technologies that can help in the enhancement of food production, productivity, processing and good preservation.

The Lusaka City Region Food System Multi-Stakeholders Dialogue was organised by Hivos and other collaborating partners.

This is according to a statement issued by Lusaka City Council Public Relations Manager, Chola Mwamba