Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
Government officials, traditional leaders, development partners and district-level coordinators have been gathering in Kadoma for a two-day workshop to review lessons from the Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy (FDMS) and Lean Season Assistance (LSA) programme, Zimbabwe’s flagship response to seasonal hunger.
The workshop, which ended on Tuesday, was officiated by Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo, who commended the ongoing partnership with non-governmental organisations to mitigate hunger.
He cited the partnership between Zimbabwe and the World Food Programme, which saw millions of affected people benefit in the previous season.
He said the Government was going to ensure that no vulnerable and deserving people were going to be affected by the impending drought, while warning responsible authorities against corruption and unfair distribution of relief food aid as Zimbabwe faces one of the worst droughts ever.
Zimbabwe is expected to receive below-normal rainfall this year due to a super El Niño-induced season.
“You have to ensure that the food which is to be distributed and shared is done fairly. Every deserving vulnerable member has to benefit,” he said
Chief Msampakaruma said that his area, which falls under Kariba rural, had been relying on food aid.
He called on the Government to start the distribution of food in light of the anticipated El Niño-induced drought.
Mashonaland West provincial social development officer, Mrs Agnes Mutowo, said the Government had already set aside 75 tonnes of mealie-meal for Kariba district.
Matabeleland South provincial social development officer, Mr Criswell Nyakudya said that while the province was facing one of the worst droughts, it had put in place plans to mitigate the hunger.
Various districts such as Mutare, Mberengwa, Chiredzi, Buhera, Mudzi, Bulilima, and Masvingo presented their targeted plans for distribution.
