Food relief distribution intensifies in Matabeleland South

OVER 320 000 people have received food relief in Matabeleland South Province in the last five months as Government intensifies its Food Relief Mitigation Programme to assist vulnerable communities against the effects of the drought.

The Food Relief Mitigation Programme is an intensive food distribution programme that seeks to address food shortages in the country.

Many communities suffered food insecurity this year as a result of the El Nino-induced drought that decimated crops across the country leaving farmers that rely on rain fed agriculture with nothing to harvest from their fields.

Even farmers that use irrigation systems are reeling from the effects of the drought as the water table continues to sink deeper and deeper, making access to irrigation water difficult.

According to the Department of Social Development in Matabeleland South Province, the number of food relief beneficiaries is increasing and Government constantly reviews the figures to meet demand for food aid.

“From May to date, we have distributed 12 833,7 metric tonnes of food relief to 322 937 people. Government is reviewing these figures upwards and the latest figures of food relief beneficiaries will be effected at the beginning of next month,” provincial head of department, Mr Criswell Nyakudya said.

Recently, Chronicle caught up with villagers of Mopane, Ward 16, in Bulilima District receiving food aid and local village head, Mr Mbuya Leonard Ncube said the mealie-meal came at the opportune time when their food supplies were running empty.

“Each villager will receive 15kgs of mealie-meal and the food will go a long way until next time when we expect to receive more food from the Government. Without this food aid, a lot of the villagers would starve to death,” he said.

“We are grateful to the Government for making sure that we are fed until the next harvest.”

Mr Ncube said villagers register with the Department of Social Development to be considered beneficiaries of the Food Relief Mitigation Programme.

“Every month, the numbers keep going up because people have nothing to eat and depend on the Government to survive,” he said.

“The drought has left us with nothing. Our biggest worry is that our cattle are dying due to lack of water and pastures.”

Gogo Martha Lunga (76) said she and her elderly daughter received enough mealie-meal to feed the family of five for a month and a half.

“I’m happy that this time we received mealie-meal and not maize, so, we don’t have to be worried about looking for money to pay at the grinding mill. This is one of the worst droughts I have ever experienced after we failed to get even a 20 kilogramme bag of maize from our fields,” said Gogo Lunga.

Another villager, Mr Robson Mhlanga, from Ward 16 in Bulilima expressed optimism that every registered beneficiary would go back home with food aid.

“I think the food is enough for everyone who is registered. That’s why villagers are orderly and there is no pushing and shoving in the queue,” he said.