Chronicle Editor
Vincent Gono, News Editor
THE Government has started mobilising grain for the re-introduced Zunde RaMambo/Isiphala SeNkosi concept in the country’s eight rural provinces where each of the country’s 301 chiefs will be allocated an initial five metric tonnes of grain that will be distributed to vulnerable people in their areas of jurisdiction.
The position was communicated by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works in a communiqué directed to all directors and district development co-ordinators where it was noted that the Government has re-modelled the initiative in response to the drought that the country is facing.
The initiative follows the declaration of this year’s drought by President Mnangagwa as a State of Disaster and his promise to provide relief and ensure no one dies of hunger.
“As you are aware, on 29 March 2024, His Excellency President Mnangagwa declared a State of Disaster in the rural and urban areas of Zimbabwe with regards to the 2024 El Nino-induced drought. In order to mitigate the impacts of the disaster, His Excellency directed that the Zunde RaMambo/Isiphala SeNkosi facility be decentralised to chief in all eight rural provinces,” reads the communiqué signed by the Chief Director Civil Protection Unit Mr Nathan Nkomo.
He said under the arrangement each chief will be allocated five metric tonnes of grain for vulnerable people under their jurisdiction to ensure that it is made available when it is needed.
The chiefs will be working with the headmen and village heads in identifying those in critical need of assistance.
It was also made clear that the Government was going to meet all the costs of transporting grain so that communities were not excluded or discriminated on the basis that they would have failed to contribute towards transport costs.
“Given the foregoing, an urgent request is being made for all District Development Co-ordinators to submit information on the status of the Zunde RaMambo/Isiphala SeNkosi programme to the directors of Local Government Services in their respective provinces for compilation and onward submission of the information to Head Office,” he advised.
He said the Zunde RaMambo/Isiphala SeNkosi initiative was an empowering tradition passed down through generations as a means of sustenance that also fosters a spirit of unity, resilience, and self-reliance within local communities. Zunde Ramambo, loosely translated as “Community Grain Bank” traces its roots back to the pre-colonial era in Zimbabwe. The practice emerged as a response to uncertain weather patterns and the need to ensure food security for the entire community.
“In essence, Zunde Ramambo/Isiphala SeNkosi operates as a system of mutual support, where each member contributes a portion of their harvest to a communal grain bank. During times of drought, crop failure, or other emergencies, the grain from the communal bank is distributed among those in need. We have however, remodelled the traditional way of doing it after realising that there is nothing that the communities harvested. In that case, the Government becomes the primary provider of the grain,” he said.
Mr Nkomo said beyond its practical benefits, Zunde Ramambo/Isiphala SeNkosi holds immense cultural and social significance in Zimbabwean society as the practice embodies the values of sharing, communal harmony, and interdependence.
He said it also fosters a sense of belonging and unity, strengthening the social fabric of communities adding that in the face of climate change, communities should continue to adapt to the practice by incorporating modern farming techniques while preserving the core values of collective responsibility and resource sharing.
He added that the Government and various development partners have recognised the importance of Zunde Ramambo/Isiphala SeNkosi and have supported its expansion through provision of training, resources, and assistance to communities, helping them improve agricultural practices, manage the communal grain banks more effectively, and build sustainable livelihoods.
Bongani Ndlovu