Govt distributes food aid in Zaka

Sydney Mubaiwa in Zaka
Government has started distributing food aid to hundreds of villagers here to avert starvation in areas where crops failed in the last farming season because of a prolonged dry spell. Communities in southern parts of the district were the worst affected and have been appealing to Government and donor organisations to provide them with food assistance.

The Government has repeatedly made it clear that the country has enough stocks of food to avert starvation and during a recent visit to Zaka for a Zanu-PF campaign rally ahead of this month’s harmonised elections, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga assured villagers that food aid would soon be distributed to drought-stricken areas countrywide.

VP Chiwenga told thousands of people during a recent rally in Zaka that no one under the new administration was going to die of hunger, especially on the backdrop of the successful Command Agriculture initiative.

Zaka district administrator Mr Ndeya Nyede recently revealed that Government had started distributing food aid in the district.

He said the food assistance was being channelled through the Department of Social Welfare.
“Government, through the Social Welfare Department, has already embarked on a massive food aid distribution programme targeting all areas in the southern region that were affected by drought in the previous farming season,” said Mr Nyede.
“Zaka is among the first districts in this province that is benefiting because it was severely affected by drought, leaving most households food insecure.”

Mr Nyede said many food distribution centres have since been opened throughout the district to make sure hunger-stricken families can easily access food.

“We have set up designated points where people will get food packages and the size of the rations vary depending with family size, but every family is given enough food to last a month,” he said.

Traditional leaders in the district hailed Government for the timely intervention, with Chief Nyakunhuwa, Mr Courage Mashavave, saying the food situation in the district was dire after poor yields last season.
“We are very happy that our Government has once again come to our rescue,” he said.

“Most farmers here failed to realise meaningful harvests because of the prolonged dry spell that affected crops and the food situation had deteriorated, especially in child-headed families across Zaka.”

Chief Nhema, Mr Ranganai Bwawanda, also commended Government for moving swiftly to avert starvation by rolling out drought relief, which was benefiting everyone irrespective of political affiliation.

“Government’s food aid programme should not be misconstrued as a campaign strategy by some malcontents who do want to good things that are done by others,” he said.

“We are happy that Government under the new administration has been sticking to its promises to the people.”
President Mnangagwa has reiterated that no one is going to die of hunger in Zimbabwe as the country has enough stocks of food.