By Jeff Kapembwa

Despite Sweden facing similar climate crisis, it willing to extend a hand and help Zambia overcome its drought stricken economy which has left many households vulnerable, says Ambassador to Zambia Johan Hallenborg.

Zambia is reeling from a tirade of climatic change effects which has decimated the economy to stunt below 3 percent from the projected 5 percent with over 1.1 million hectares of planted maize withering after rains-fell below normal with over 3 million children being affected by malnutrition.

Ambassador Hallenborg noting the gravity of the climatic change effects has assured Zambia of unwavering support to overcome the negative impact of climate change-induced drought increase funding to the Social cash Transfer programme and help people who have been affected by the predicament.

During a courtesy call on Minister of Green Economy and Environment Mike Elton Mposha noted that both Zambia and Sweden were experiencing the effects of climate change and that after his office undertook its assessment in Monze, it was inevitable to assist the country reduce the vulnerability imposed on the people, having extended over US$1 million for the gesture.

“We have assisted through the EU. We have donated US$ 1 million to the World Food

Programme for humanitarian assistance; that is through a programme that I recently visited in Monze District where we could see the devastating effects of drought but also see that the funding we are providing now helps people,”

The support, he said goes into the emergency cash transfer programme and that more funding was expected to extend to other households and concerns that have arisen as a result.

“We have also added more funding into the Social cash transfer, we hope to add US$2 million more in that programme and that will help increase the social cash grants for the vulnerable people across Zambia,” he said.

Sweden forms one of the main donors to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (UNICEF) and has set aside US$5.5 million for Zambia to fight drought. Sweden does not sit idly when we see drought in Zambia.”

Mposha said the Zambian Government is working tirelessly to develop climate-resilient infrastructure, enhance disaster preparedness, and support climate-smart agriculture practices.

The Ministry is committed to promoting economic growth, job creation, and environmental sustainability.