Southern Africans consumes more than a fifth of the world’s maize output.

It’s like telling Italians to stop eating pasta.

But Zambia’s vice president Inonge Wina insists the staple in Southern African countries should be ditched in favour of more nutritious foods.

Her country and many of its neighbors are in the grip of drought that has severely reduced maize production.

The climate-change related crises has led to 1,7 million Zambians – that’s 18 per cent of the population – suffering severe food insecurity.

The UN-linked Relief Web says 40 percent of  Zambian children under five years are stunted.

Wina advises Zambians to eat more millet, sorghum, cassava and sweet potatoes

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The disaster’s left 20 000 people homeless.

Most of the victims from the collapse of the Patel Dam in Nakuru county 200 kms northwest of Nairobi were woman and children trapped in the mud.

The Kenyan Red Cross says its rescued 40 people.

Two schools are among the hundreds of buildings  destroyed by the  flood.

Until rains started in March, the area had been in the grip  a devastating drought that left  hundreds of thousands of people reliant of food aid for survival.

The downpours have killed killed 162 people in Kenya and destroyed the homes of more than 220 000.

The post Death toll from Kenya dam collapse climbs to 31 appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

The Parks and Wildlife Management Authority in South Africa’s northern neighbor’s asking potential buyers with the capacity to acquire and manage wildlife and enough land to house the animals to  get in touch.

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Zimbabwe’s Wildlife Management Authority says in light of the drought it intends to destock its parks estates through selling some of the wildlife.

Their  statement did not say what species of animals are up for sale, or whether they would be sold to local or foreign bidders.

Conservation groups were incensed earlier this year when 18 Zimbabwe elephants due to be culled because of sustainability problems  were sent to Chinese zoos.

Drought is causing Zimbabwe to suffer its worst malnutrition in 15 years.

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