Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
GWANDA District in Matabeleland South Province is set to benefit from over US$600 000 humanitarian drought response project being implemented by Government and its development partner Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH).
The project that will run from March to November is also being implemented in Mount Darwin District in Mashonaland Central Province with Gwanda having been allocated two thirds of the budget.
Speaking during a project inception meeting WHH focal person, Mr Francis Kanda said the project has four outputs which include improved access to water for both people and livestock, information dissemination on regenerative farming methods, small livestock income generating project support and enhanced livestock feed knowledge transfer support.
The project is being funded by German based organisation Bauer Foundation with WHH as the implementing partner. Various Government departments will play an advisory role. The project will also work closely with the district civil protection committee, district water supply and sanitation committee (DWSSC), drought relief and food and nutrition committees.
“The main goal of the project is to bring immediate humanitarian relief for drought affected communities in the two districts of Gwanda and Mount Darwin. It also seeks to contribute to the restoration of livelihoods by mitigating the impact of climate change and recurrent droughts,” said Mr Kanda.
“It also seeks to restore critical livelihoods options and opportunities and improve household food security. The main activities that will be conducted under the project include construction of piped water schemes.”
Mr Kanda said the project will also include activities that will promote climate smart agriculture, natural resources management, livestock supplementary feed formulation and small livestock production.
Other activities will be poultry restocking, community led veterinary livestock vaccination activities and establishment of village business units which will be supported by piped water schemes
Mr Kanda said the project will also ensure access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene solutions. He said local water committees and community health volunteers will be trained on mitigating water-borne disease risks and enhance community health and safety.
Gwanda District development coordinator, Ms Nomathemba Ndlovu said the drought response intervention will go a long way in complementing efforts being made by Government to alleviate the impact of drought in the district.
“As Gwanda we haven’t been spared from the effects of the El Nino induced drought which has left a number of households’ food insecure. Government has rolled out several interventions but there is always room for partners to come on board,” she said.
“We appreciate this intervention which is coming through WHH as it will go a long way mitigating the impact of drought. We look forward to seeing this project implemented with great precision.”
Ms Ndlovu said mechanisms should be put in place to monitor and evaluate the programme to ensure its sustainability.
Zimbabwe, like other countries in Southern Africa has been hard hit by drought causing hardship for millions of people. The El Niño-induced drought is exacerbating the existing socio-economic crisis, particularly in rural communities that rely on rain-fed agriculture.
Insufficient rainfall has led to partial or complete crop failures in most parts of the country.
Livestock deaths have also increased.
According to FAO, 7,6 million people are affected by food insecurity because of last cropping season’s drought. — @DubeMatutu.
Bongani Ndlovu