Photo: Christine © Courtesy of Mary’s Meals
By Mazuba Mwiinga, Head of Growth and Communications, Mary’s Meals Zambia
On January 12, 2026, thousands of Zambian children were preparing to return to school with the promise of learning, and a daily nutritious meal from Mary’s Meals Zambia (MMZ). But nature had its own plans. Heavy downpours left a trail of destruction in Lundazi District.
According to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), “over 250 homes collapsed or submerged, displacing families.” Mwase and Mphamba bridges were washed away, cutting off access to health facilities and town centres. The water treatment plant was damaged, forcing emergency chlorine deployment to prevent disease outbreaks. Fields were washed away, leaving only mud where promising crops once stood. Power outages disrupted hospitals, and urgent relief efforts led by DMMU, Zambia National Service (ZNS), and Road Development Agency (RDA) scrambled to restore connectivity.
This, however, is not an isolated event, and it could serve as a warning. According to the Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD), the January–March 2026 season indicates intense rainfall episodes, with stations like Kasama already logging 193 mm in just 10 days, Misamfu at 170 mm, and Msekera at 148 mm. Forecasts predict normal to above-normal rainfall, meaning saturated soils, flash floods, and multi-day rain spells are likely to persist.
A security flash alert issued by Mary’s Meals Zambia’s Security and Risk Manager, James Amanzi, points out: “the current situation suggests that other areas, particularly low-lying regions and those near rivers or streams, may also be affected,” with key risks including “homes of staff stationed in flood-prone areas (risk) … being washed away or severely damaged.”
On the program delivery side, the alert points out that “impassable roads may delay CSB deliveries and hinder monitoring activities”. If detours around damaged infrastructure must be considered, this means increased delivery times and costs, affecting budgets and schedules.
He also warns of a risk of loss or damage to cooking equipment, while noting that displacement and unsafe travel routes to schools in affected areas are also likely to make “volunteer cooks and other stakeholders … face challenges accessing schools,” risking meal preparation delays if cooks struggle to report on time, or no meals at all if the situation worsens.
Collapsed bridges and washed-out roads could keep children from reaching classrooms, and the meals they depend on.
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Nevertheless, the security manager is hopeful that, with immediate actions in place, the anticipated risks can be mitigated. He states that “the physical wellbeing of team members is paramount,” urging staff to remain “vigilant and report any incidents or potential risks to [their] manager[s], as well as the HR and Security teams” for “timely assistance.”
He recommends “rapid assessments of all school kitchens and storerooms in Lundazi,” with school feeding officers (SFOs) reviewing feeding programme infrastructure and implementing safeguarding measures, especially in low-lying areas. He further advises developing “route plans to identify alternative access routes to schools” and to “monitor stock deliveries … [so as to] make necessary adjustments to ensure learners are fed when schools reopen.”
Ironically, this looming flood crisis comes barely a year after Zambia endured one of its harshest droughts during the 2024/2025 farming season, which left countless households staring at withered crops and enduring severe food insecurity. Communities that once prayed for rain to rescue their parched fields now find themselves battling relentless downpours that threaten to wash away what little hope remained. The pendulum swing from drought to flooding underscores the fragility of rural livelihoods, and the critical role of school feeding as a safety net when climate extremes threaten both harvests and hunger.
For Mary’s Meals, school feeding is not just about providing a meal, but a lifeline as well. When infrastructure fails, hunger rises, absenteeism spikes, and the ripple effect touches education outcomes and community morale.
The rains will keep coming. But with foresight, flexibility, and community collaboration, the mission to feed children, and motivate learning, can withstand the storm.
