By Sharon Siame
Vice President MUTALE NALUMANGO says the Government aims to reduce the national stunting rate from 32 per cent to 15 per cent by 2030.
Mrs. NALUMANGO says the country has already made progress, with stunting falling by three percentage points in recent years.
She said this in Lusaka today, in a speech read on her behalf by Secretary to the Cabinet PATRICK KANGWA during the launch of the 2026 National Food and Nutrition Security Policy, its Implementation Plan and the National Stunting Reduction Strategy.
The Vice President said the initiatives mark an important step in Zambia’s drive towards sustainable human development.
Mrs. NALUMANGO commended the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders for their efforts to combat malnutrition, saying a multi-sectoral approach is needed to tackle the challenge.
She said the new policy and strategy address the triple burden of malnutrition, including under-nutrition, over-nutrition and micronutrient deficiencies affecting people at every stage of life.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Vice President LILLIAN KAPUSANA said the launch of the policy and strategy marks a major step in strengthening food and nutrition security and addressing malnutrition.
Ms. KAPUSANA said the 2026 National Food and Nutrition Security Policy replaces the 2006 policy and provides an operational framework to support practical interventions and measurable outcomes.
United Nations Resident Coordinator BEATRICE MUTALI described Zambia’s nutrition situation as urgent, noting that although stunting declined by three percentage points between 2018 and 2024, malnutrition continues to affect millions of people.
Ms. MUTALI welcomed the Government’s development of the new policy and strategy, saying it demonstrates strong political commitment, with President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA and Vice President MUTALE NALUMANGO championing nutrition through various initiatives.
National Disaster Risk Management Division -NDRMD- National Coordinator NORMAN CHIPAKUPAKU said the 2026 National Food and Nutrition Security Policy is intended to improve consistency in programming while addressing emerging challenges in the food and nutrition sector.
Mr. CHIPAKUPAKU said the two national documents will provide direction for efforts to improve food and nutrition security across the country.
Meanwhile, Public Private Dialogue Forum Deputy Director General JACQUELINE CHISHIMBA urged the private sector to increase the production, promotion and availability of fortified foods to address nutritional deficiencies among vulnerable communities.
Ms. CHISHIMBA also called on food manufacturers and processors to comply fully with national food fortification standards and regulatory requirements.
And Presidential Delivery Unit Head KUSOBILE KAMWAMBI, represented by Delivery Manager JONES SHIMBELA, said the Unit remains committed to supporting the Office of the Vice President and other stakeholders in implementing the new policy and strategy.
Mr. SHIMBELA said President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA’s goal of eliminating stunting reflects the importance of nutrition as a foundation for human development.
