Food aid distribution begins in Midlands

THE distribution of food aid to households facing food insecurity has started in the Midlands province, with traditional leaders co-ordinating the effort to ensure all those in need receive assistance.

Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Owen Ncube, told the inaugural 2024 joint Midlands Provincial Coordinating Committee Development meeting that the registration of food insecure households is complete and that food has begun to be distributed to some districts. He called on fellow Members of Parliament to assist in transporting grain to areas where the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) faces challenges.

“Distribution of food aid has commenced and the registration of food insecure households for the lean season, January to March, is complete. Some districts are now receiving food assistance,” said Minister Ncube.

“Following the declaration of the current drought as a State of National Disaster by President Mnangagwa on 2 April 2024, the President has further directed that all food insecure households and people be enumerated in order to receive food aid.

“Modalities for the current feeding scheme direct that traditional leaders be at the centre of the distribution system supported by councillors and the party exercising its oversight role,” said Minister Ncube.

He indicated that village heads should preside over village assemblies where selection of beneficiaries takes place, adding that similarly, where selection takes place at ward level, the chiefs or headman preside over the ward assembly where selection takes place.

“Officials from the Government and partners will be assisting to make sure that the process is flawless,” said Cde Ncube.

Minister Ncube praised the people of the Midlands for raising US$40 000 during the Minister’s Ball held on Independence Day, which he facilitated and said that they managed to raise US$15 000 for the purchase of mealie-meal, blankets, bath soap and sanitary pads to donate to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, hospitals, old people’s homes and orphanages in the province.

He said King Solomon’s Hotel in Kwekwe provided everything from food to drinks, among other things, to make the event worthwhile, a step which he said saw businesspeople, well-wishers and ordinary people contributing towards raising funds to assist underprivileged people in the province.

“We facilitated the hosting of the Minister’s Ball at King Solomon Hotel in Kwekwe and we didn’t contribute anything to the hotel, which provided food and everything. The event was a success and we managed to raise about US$40 000.

“The other money went towards hotel expenses among other costs and we were left with US$15 000,” he said.

Yesterday, Minister Ncube handed over mealie-meal, bath soap, blankets and sanitary wear to Whawha Prison, Senga Old People’s Home, Blue Hills Probation and Remand Home, Midlands Children’s Home, Hope Centre, Queen of Peace, Jairos Jiri Narran Centre and Mudavanhu Zimcare Trust in Gweru

“I wish to applaud the Midlands community for their enormous support towards the fund raising dinner, which dovetails with the philanthropic passion of the mother of the nation, Her Excellency the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, who remains a beacon of hope for the girl child, the elderly, widows, children living on the streets and marginalised communities in hard to reach areas,” he said.

“In view of the foregoing, I wish to assure you all that the Midlands province will pursue the guidance of President Mnangagwa to promote Food and Nutrition Security to eliminate extreme poverty through relief measures such as drought relief, harmonised cash transfer and Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam).”

Mrs Annamore Mukwazhe from Mudavanhu Zimcare Trust, commended Minister Ncube and well-wishers for supporting the Ball, saying the children at the Trust will have food on the table.

“We thank the minister for the donation, which has come at the right time as we move towards the re-opening of schools. We have children with intellectual challenges and when they come to school we know that they will have food to eat at school and before going back home,” she said.

Queen of Peace Rehabilitation and Crisis Centre representative, Ms Evelyn Musipa, said their children were on medication and needed food all the time.

“We are aware that many families are struggling following the drought induced El-Nino. So, when they come to school, we will give our children food to eat so that they can also take their medication properly,” she said.