About 1.25 million people, representing seven per cent of the analysed population across 93 districts, could face acute food insecurity between August 2026 and March 2027, according to the 2026 Zambia Vulnerability and Needs Assessment Report.
Vice President Mutale Nalumango told Parliament on Friday that the Government had activated a coordinated national preparedness plan to address the anticipated effects of the 2026/2027 El Niño phenomenon following early warnings of below-normal rainfall, prolonged dry spells and possible drought conditions.
She said the Government had adopted a proactive and coordinated approach aimed at reducing risks, protecting lives and livelihoods, safeguarding food security and maintaining essential services across the country.
Nalumango warned that the anticipated conditions could affect food security, water availability, public health, energy generation, livestock, education and livelihoods.
“Government has received early warning information indicating the developing El Niño phenomenon which increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall, prolonged dry spells and drought conditions in several parts of the country during the forthcoming rainy season,” Nalumango said.
She said her office, through the Disaster Risk Management Division (DRMD), had already disbursed K31.7 million to support efforts to prevent the projected population from slipping into a more severe phase of food insecurity.
Nalumango said the funds had been released to prioritised districts in Eastern, Southern, Western, Central, Northern, North-Western, Muchinga, Lusaka and Luapula provinces.
She added the provinces had since procured and distributed relief food to the targeted districts, adding that decentralising relief food procurement was a cost-saving measure because transporting supplies from Lusaka would have increased costs.
“Learning from the experiences of the 2023/2024 drought, Government has adopted a proactive and coordinated approach aimed at reducing risks, protecting lives and livelihoods, safeguarding food security, and maintaining essential services throughout the country,” she said.
Nalumango said the DRMD and its partners were finalising a comprehensive response plan to facilitate the distribution of additional relief food or cash assistance throughout the lean period.
She said the Government had also activated disaster management clusters bringing together line ministries, cooperating partners, United Nations agencies, civil society organisations and faith-based institutions.
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According to the Vice President, the clusters had developed the 2026/2027 El Niño Preparedness and Response Plan, which seeks to coordinate preparedness for multiple hazards, including El Niño, floods and droughts.
The plan also aims to strengthen disease control in humans and animals, improve access to safe water and sanitation, and secure staple food supplies through strategic grain reserves and market stabilisation measures.
“Experience has consistently shown that investing in disaster risk reduction and preparedness before a disaster occurs is far more cost-effective and beneficial than mobilising resources after it has struck,” she said.
She warned that reactive responses to disasters often placed significant pressure on the Treasury and disrupted planned development programmes.
“Learning from the 2023/2024 drought, I urge all Honourable Members to encourage their constituents to preserve this year’s stocks, so that we do not repeat the food insecurity of that season,” Nalumango said.
She urged Members of Parliament to disseminate the seasonal forecast in their constituencies, encourage farmers to follow advisories issued by the Zambia Meteorological Department and agricultural extension officers, and support the Meteorological Services Bill when it comes before the House.
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