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3m food insecure in Zimbabwe

SHANNISE DZOBO

MASVINGO CITY- About 2 715 717 million people are going to be in need of food assistance during the peak hunger period between January and March 2024 compared to 3.8 million in the previous year The Midweek Watch can reveal.

This was said by the director of Social Development, Tawanda Zimhunga in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare yesterday at a stakeholder sensitisation meeting for the 2023/2024 lean season assistance under the Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy program.

The meeting at Chevron Hotel in Masvingo’s main thrust was to outline the government’s plan and road map to food distribution across the country in all food insecure districts.

Zimhunga also stated that the number of food insecure people in Zimbabwe for the 2023/24 consumption decreased to 26% from 38% according to the 2023 Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC) projections when compared with the previous year.

“The number of food insecure people in Zimbabwe for the 2023/24 consumption decreased to 26% from 38% according to the 2023 ZimLAC projections when compared with the previous year”, said Zimhunga.

“Provinces with the highest food insecurity levels are Matabeleland North 42 percent down from 58 percent from the previous year, Mashonaland Central 31 percent and Masvingo province 30 percent”.

The government and World Food Programme (WFP) is set to target at least 80 percent of the food insecure population and due to the decrease of food insecurity, food distributions are going to be intensified and be concentrated during the period where food insecurity will be at its highest due to the anticipated effects of the projected El Nino on households food security.

WFP Representative and Country Director, Francesca Erdelmann told the stakeholders that with the current lean season, through the generosity of WFP’s donors and working with their partners, WFP is joining government’s efforts to provide food assistance to those who need it the most.

“WFP’s response within selected districts will provide a comprehensive food basket of cereals, pulses and fortified vegetable oil to ensure the most food-insecure communities and households are catered for”, said Erdelmann.

She went on to say that they will also work closely with the government counterparts to address some of the challenges that have been experienced in past years which were captured in their collective ‘lessons learnt’ including those related to food supply management, targeting and monitoring.

“Together we aim to strengthen the delivery of food assistance across the country”.

Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare July Moyo in his presentation stated that the main objectives of the programme included to avail free food assistance to the food insecure labour constrained households (older person headed households, child headed households, chronically ill, persons with disabilities, female headed households with high dependency ratio) and mitigate the effects of drought and other shocks on food insecure non-labour constrained households through productive community works / cash transfers and food for asset programmes.

“The main objectives of the programme included availing free food assistance to the food insecure labour constrained households and mitigating the effects of drought and other shocks on food insecure non-labour constrained households through productive community works / cash transfers and food for asset programmes,” said Moyo.

Minister  Moyo went on to mention that it is of importance to note that, some districts will be provided for by Government (39 districts) and others by WFP (4 districts) through its implementing partners.

“Let me at this point in time; thank our Development Partner WFP, for their continued support as they complement Government efforts,” he said.

National Chief’s Council president Chief Mtshane Khumalo, who was also present at the stakeholders meeting also commented the initiatives that are being implemented by both the government and WFP but encouraged both parties to invest more in water supply so that it improve the lives of people in the communities where they are food insecure.

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