Zambia’s Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) has launched a large-scale emergency response to contain a resurgence of red locust swarms threatening agricultural land in Western Province’s Limulunga district.
DMMU national coordinator Norman Chipakupaku confirmed on Monday that the unit has deployed teams and procured sufficient chemicals to spray four affected zones in the district.
He warned that the locusts have multiplied rapidly, prompting consideration of aerial support from the Zambia Air Force to bolster containment efforts.
The Red Locust Control Organisation is currently on the ground conducting assessments while spraying operations are underway. More than 131 hectares of land have so far been treated, according to officials.
The outbreak in Limulunga marks a reoccurrence of red locust infestations that have periodically threatened food security in Zambia’s western region.
Red locusts are known for their destructive feeding patterns and capacity to devastate crops and pastureland if not swiftly controlled.
Authorities say the coordinated response aims to prevent further spread and protect livelihoods in the district, which is heavily reliant on subsistence farming and livestock.
JN/APA