Food distribution starts

Masvingo Bureau
Government has started distributing food to villagers in Masvingo under the Grain Loan Scheme with an initial 600 tonnes of maize having been delivered to GMB depots across the seven districts in the drought-stricken province.The development comes as Government has also given the World Food Programme the greenlight to resume drought relief operations in the province where over 400 000 people are facing food shortages.

Most villagers in southern parts of Masvingo, especially in areas such as Zaka, Mwenezi, Chiredzi and Chivi have been grappling with food shortages after poor harvests last year, forcing chiefs to appeal to Government to urgently provide food assistance.

Masvingo provincial administrator Mr Felix Chikovo on Wednesday said 600 tonnes of maize have so far been dispatched to GMB depots in the province to feed starving villagers.

Mr Chikovo said six of the province’s districts would get an initial 90 tonnes each while Gutu district would get 60 tonnes from the 600 tonnes.