FIAN Zambia Speaks on the Right to Food, Water Pollution, and Policy Reform on Social Charter Radio Program on Yar Fm

On 25^th February 2025, FIAN Zambia’s Country Coordinator, Mr Vladimir Chilinya, joined the conversation to reflect on “the state of food security in Zambia, recent environmental crises, and the urgent need for legal recognition of the right to food” on the Social Charter Interview Program aired on Yar FM radio station in Kitwe, Zambia. 

The interview came in the wake of a devastating pollution incident affecting Mwambeshi Stream, a vital water source for both Kitwe residents and more than 200 smallholder farmers whose fields were destroyed. Mr Chilinya described the situation as a clear violation of the right to food, emphasizing that the incident not only wiped out food sources but also threatened livelihoods, education, and healthcare access for entire families.

He urged the government to:

Ø  Promote legal recognition of the right to food;

Ø  Invest in agricultural diversification and agroecological farming;

Ø  Ensure that natural resource governance is people-centered and inclusive;

Ø  Provide clear and accessible compensation mechanisms when rights are violated.

Closing the interview, Mr Chilinya urged that food security should not be politicized but instead treated as a human right and a national priority. We must separate food issues from politics and ensure that every Zambian, regardless of status, has access to adequate, affordable, and nutritious food.  

To listen to the radio program, click the link below: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CQps9aVu3/