Drought looms in Matabeleland

Munyaradzi Musiiwa and Dumani Moyo Sunday News Reporters
DROUGHT is looming in the southern part of the country if no rains are received in the coming few weeks, Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said. Speaking at the official launch of campaigns for Zanu-PF MP designate for Chirumhanzu-Zibagwe constituency, Cde Auxilia Mnangagwa in Bob-Swift in Kwekwe recently, VP Mnangagwa said a preliminary crop assessment had revealed that most crops in the southern part of the country had been greatly affected by the dry spell experienced in the past few weeks.

The provinces that were likely to be affected are Midlands, Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South.
“According to reports that we are receiving, most areas in the southern region are likely to have poor harvests if we do not receive rains in the next few weeks. The condition of the crops in those areas indicates that poor harvests are looming. We hope that we are going to receive adequate rains,” he said.

VP Mnangagwa said Government had employed proactive measures and was already strategising on how to mitigate drought in the event that the dry spell continues and the southern region experiences poor harvests.

“After receiving these reports (of the affected crop) we started strategising on how to cushion the affected regions. Our first cluster in Zim Asset aims at averting hunger and ensuring food security at household level,” he said.

VP Mnangagwa said $245 million which was received by Government from the European Union will be channelled towards agriculture and health sectors among other strategic sectors.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Services Department yesterday said rains are expected to fall today and tomorrow all over the country with the exception of Matabeleland provinces.

In an interview with Sunday News, Mr Tich Zinyemba, the head of public weather services in the Met Department, said the rains are expected to last up to tomorrow.

“The rains expected to fall over the country should be spread throughout all provinces today. Expectations are that they may last up to Monday but should really only be isolated in Matabeleland provinces,” he said.

He further added that the rains will be associated with thunder showers.
“There are also possibilities of having some localised heavy thundershowers, in excess of 30mm, but again there may be confined to the central watershed and in northern Matabeleland North Province, Victoria Falls and Binga areas. It is common that thundershowers that develop after a prolonged dry spell will be accompanied by damaging winds and hail,” said Mr Zinyemba.

He urged the public to be aware of potential lightning strikes and strong winds.
This comes after about 10 people were killed by lightning in various parts of the country this rainy season.