Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
ABOUT 81 percent of the population in Matabeleland South province is food insecure and Government and the Zanu-PF provincial leadership are working on strategies to mitigate the effects of the El Nino-induced drought.
The ruling party’s Provincial Co-ordinating Committee and the Matabeleland South Provincial Development Committee recently met to discuss the province’s food security status.
In an interview after the meeting, Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu said Government is concerned with the livelihoods of people and efforts will be made to mitigate the effects of drought, which resulted in poor harvests.
“This meeting is crucial as it seeks to interrogate the status of food security in the province. Each district submitted a report on the living conditions for both people and livestock. Their reports included the status of grain availability,” she said.
“From the reports, we have realised that Beitbridge is better in terms of stock availability while the other districts have low supplies. So far, 81 percent of our population has been identified to be food insecure.”
Dr Ndlovu said hay baling is ongoing at Matopo National Park.
“We hope that this exercise will bring much-needed relief for many farmers. There is also a proposal that we bale in other provinces that have grass,” she said.
“Teams will be first assigned to assess the diseases, which are in those areas, so that we don’t transport the diseases.”
Dr Ndlovu said it has been established that the water situation is bad in the province with most sources having dried up.
Dr Ndlovu said a follow-up will be made on the release of funds by Treasury through the relevant authorities for the transportation of grain.
Minister of Industry and Commerce who is also the Zanu-PF Matabeleland South provincial chairman, Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu said heads of Government departments must work together with the party leadership to address the challenge facing the province.
“We met as the PCC and PDC members from Matabeleland South, trying to understand the Government programmes, which are underway and progress in their implementation and what is lacking. The province is largely driven by agriculture both crop and livestock,” he said.
“One of the issues that stood out under the drought relief programme was the availability of grazing areas and water. We also looked into the pass rate, which remains low, the Beam programme and the state of roads among other issues.”
Cde Ndlovu urged commercial farmers to play an active part in saving the provincial herd through hay baling. He also urged farmers to de-stock and remain with productive animals. Cde Ndlovu said the Zanu-PF leadership got an update on the progress made through the devolution funds. He said the province has a role in contributing towards the realisation of President Mnangagwa’s vision of developing the nation.
Cde Ndlovu said the party’s provincial leadership will continue monitoring, to ensure that development programmes are being implemented. — @DubeMatutu
Online Reporter