adminThis was disclosed by the parastatal’s depot manager for Gwanda, Mr Walter Makova, at a Drought Relief Committee meeting at the District Administrator’s office yesterday.
The food aid programme had been set to cater for 4 500 rural households with 225 tonnes needed for the exercise.
The Department of Social Welfare Service is responsible for the implementation of the programme.
Mr Makova said the depot was empty owing to the acute shortage of grain bags, a development that has hampered the supply of grain from Bulawayo.
“There is completely nothing at the depot. The major challenge has been that of grain bags and we have been experiencing the problem since July. We are now receiving two trucks per week instead of six trucks and as a result we don’t have any grain at the moment. We are begging the community to supply us with the bags,” he said.
Mr Makova said to transport maize from Bulawayo to Gwanda was not a problem as transport was available.
However, Mr Makova said no communication was made to him by the Department of Social Welfare concerning the Drought Relief Programme.
“No communication pertaining to that programme has been made to us,” he said.
The programme is targeting vulnerable groups who include orphans, the elderly, people living with disabilities and the chronically ill.
A recent survey conducted by the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVac) revealed that Gwanda is one of the 12 worst affected districts in terms of food security and actually is the most vulnerable district when it comes to food.
“Of all the 60 Rural District Councils in Zimbabwe, Gwanda comes first when we talk of food insecurity. Therefore, Treasury has released $18 000 for the purpose of moving grain to the people in rural wards,” said the District Social Services officer, Mr Alex Zinyoro.
He said traditional leaders and councillors would help in identifying deserving beneficiaries and ensure that those receiving food assistance from other programmes would not deprive others of the opportunity to benefit under the exercise.
A total of 23 out of the district’s 24 wards would be covered by the programme except for ward 10, which is a commercial farming area.
“The $18 000 allocation is for one month and the head office has promised to notify us of any changes should there be new releases from Treasury. The task this week is to mobilise people and make them aware of this programme,” said Mr Zinyoro.
However, he said the grain coupons were yet to be received from the head office.
Online Reporter