Govt food aid programme begins

Sunday Mail Reporter

Close to four million food-insecure Zimbabweans will start receiving food aid from the Government this week under the Food Deficit Mitigation Programme.

To date, 3,8 million people have already registered under the programme, with social welfare officers finalising localised databases of vulnerable households to ensure everyone with inadequate food gets assistance.

Between November and December, the Government will provide food assistance to 2,4 million vulnerable people, while approximately 3,8 million people will receive food aid during the peak hunger period between January and March next year.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Permanent Secretary Mr Simon Masanga told The Sunday Mail that food distribution will commence during the first week of November.

“The Government has been distributing 15 000 tonnes of grain to those in distress across the country while logistics to embark on a fully fledged distribution process are being finalised,” said Mr Masanga.

“All provinces are now in the process of registering beneficiaries and as soon as they are done, distribution at the ward level will commence.”

The food, he said, will be distributed to the beneficiaries through district drought relief committees.

“Traditional leaders — including chiefs, headmen and village heads — are the gatekeepers of any community and, hence, are the entry point for any programme.

“Traditional leaders will assist in the mobilisation of communities, calling for meetings, assist in the identification as well as targeting of eligible beneficiaries,” he said.

The Government has already set aside $9 billion to fund the programme.

Director of social development in the
Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Mr Tawanda Zimhunga said the food aid programme will be carried out in two phases.

“The first phase, which is from November to December, Government will support 2 411 504 people nationwide, while the World Food Programme (WFP) will support 559 328 people.

“The final phase will see Government support 3 066 463 people, while WFP will cater for 702 227,” he said.

The late onset of rains last season, coupled with a mid-season dry spell, badly affected grain production last season.