admin
Paidamoyo Chipunza Senior Reporter
Government has started distributing food to vulnerable families in food insecure areas across the country with over 600 000 families already benefiting, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza has said.
In an interview with the Zimbabwe Television Network (ZTN) in Harare yesterday, Dr Nzenza said the worst affected families were from Mudzi, Buhera, Rushinga, Bikita, Mt Darwin, Bulilima-Mangwe, Mwenezi, Chivi, Mbire and Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe districts.
“Government is currently feeding 601 965 households with grain. The monthly consumption in Zimbabwe is 13 000 tonnes,” said Dr Nzenza.
She said food was being distributed on a weekly basis and on Thursday January 24, her ministry will be distributing food, which consists mainly of grain, to families in UMP.
“The UMP area has been badly affected and traditionally, there is always low rainfall in this area. My ministry takes special attention such that on Thursday, a team will be going there to meet the most vulnerable people at Chitsungo Growth Point where 120 tonnes of grain will be distributed,” said Dr Nzenza.
She said Government’s intervention was in response to families that have already started showing signs of being food insecure, following indications that the country might be facing a possible drought due to El Nino.
“The current situation is a cause for concern because the rainfall pattern shows that we will receive below to average rainfall.
“We are already beginning to realise that there are families that are affected by the shortage of food, but my ministry is working very closely with stakeholders within the country to provide food right across the country,” said Dr Nzenza.
She said communities’ vulnerability was being assessed through weekly reports compiled from all districts by social workers in partnership with drought relief committees.
Dr Nzenza said together with the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC) Report, the reports provide Government with information on who requires urgent food assistance in the country.
She also commended non-governmental organisations that were working with Government in providing food aid to vulnerable communities.
She said although there were concerns that Government would revoke licences of NGOs that were not sticking to their mandate, it would not unilaterally deregister them without engaging them.
“There have been concerns from some of the NGOs who feel that perhaps we have come on too strong on them by saying if you do not stick to your mandate we will revoke your licence.
“It is my ministry’s responsibility to start that conversation and say, ‘Look, you are now working outside your mandate’ and that is done through a conversation, you do not just unilaterally say we do not need you in Zimbabwe,” she said.
Dr Nzenza said the current Private Voluntary Organisations Act was clear on the mandate of NGOs, which is primarily to complement Government interventions.
Online Reporter