History

DMDC started as a charitable church organization under the Livingstone diocese in 1972. It was founded by Sister Edelburgis and was run by the Holy Cross Sisters. It was called Mongu Nutrition centre. The project carried out activities such as food aid and was the distribution center for relief food. It also distributed clothes to the poor through various parishes. Its services were extended to the rural areas by opening up various outlets (depots and centers), where essential commodities were sold.

In 1987 the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) took over the management of the DMDC and assigned Coordinators to run it. Besides the current Director of DMDC, Mr. Kusiyo Lewanika, six different couples have acted as directors for periods ranging from 2-5 years each. The following were the main activities carried out by the center:  

(a)      Food distribution and relief programmes.

(b)     Outreach- health programmes for children under five and expectant mothers.

(c)              Support to agriculture by providing farming inputs and implements from three centres.

Over the past 32 years DMDC has acquired a good reputation as supporter for the agricultural and health sectors. They were the first Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) to undertake the growing, buying, storing and processing of rice.

3.       Challenges

The external and internal analysis provided an opportunity to identify the challenges that DMDC is current facing. Additionally, this process provided DMDC the chance to identify the key strategic issues that it should be addressing in order to strengthen the organization’s internal capacity, which should also translate into effective program implementation. The following are the main challenges:

(a)              Addressing the basic human needs of the less privileged in the Diocese of Mongu in the prevailing economic and social environment.

(b)              Being financial viable as a non-profit making faith based organisation.

(c)              Lack of appreciation by most of the less privileged of the potential of sustainable agriculture in improving their livelihood.

(d)              Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS and gender our current and new activities

(e)              Marketing of DMDC products and services visa-vi the increased competition from profiting orientated organisation

4.       Fundamental Principles

DMDC in facing the above mentioned challenges and addressing the basic needs of the less privileged in society will be guided by:

(a)                The Social Teaching of the Church, which emphasises the close link between evangelisation and human advancement.

(b)               The Millennium Declaration signed in 2000 by 189 governments, at the United Nations General Assembly, which committed the international community to halve world poverty by 2015.