1,3 million people require food aid

Millennium Development Goals has said.
The figures were drawn from an assessment of the crop and livestock situation countrywide.
Giving oral evidence to the Senate Thematic Committee on the MDGs on Monday, co-ordinator of the taskforce and secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Lancaster Museka, said a total of US$7 million would be required to assist the vulnerable households.
“The 2011 second round crop and livestock assessment indicated that four provinces will be food insecure between July 2011 and March 2012.
“An extrapolation of the crop assessment estimates that a total of 1,34 million people will require food assistance during this period,” he said.
Mr Museka said inadequate budgetary support would hamper Government’s efforts to meet set targets in achieving the MDGs.
He said his ministry had been allocated US$3 million but Treasury was yet to disburse anything.
“Budget wise, a total of US$ 7 million will be required for this purpose, this is against the same budget allocation of US$3 million, which Treasury is yet to release.
“Even if Treasury were to release the US$3 million allocated for 2011, there will still be a funding gap of US$4 million,” he said.
Mr Museka said there had been positive developments in the education sector that has seen the country attaining the status of the most literate nation in Africa.
Appearing before the same committee, permanent secretary in Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Ministry, Dr Desire Sibanda said the Medium Term Plan to be launched on July 7 would thrive to eradicate extreme poverty.
“The Medium Term Plan to be launched on July 7 will aim to address issues of sustainable growth and achievement of MDGs.
“We have looked at eradication of extreme poverty as one of the targets in the achievement of the MDGs,” Dr Sibanda said.
He said the policy targeted employment creation as a way of fighting poverty.
He said despite massive economic growth, Africa had failed to eradicate poverty.
Dr Sibanda said parliamentarians should ensure the success of the Medium Term Plan so that the country achieve targets set under the MDGs.
The MDG’s were adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2000 and Zimbabwe established the taskforce in 2002.
Zimbabwe has adopted three MDGs as priority goals and these include eradication of extreme hunger and poverty, promote gender equality and empower women and combat HIV and Aids, Malaria and other diseases.
The taskforce comprises various ministries including Labour and Social Welfare, Health and Child Welfare, Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Environment among others.