adminWalter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
SCORES of villagers in Chief Maranda’s area in Mwenezi are surviving on wild fruits as hunger stalks the driest district in Masvingo. Mwenezi District Administrator Rosemary Chigwe said there were widespread food shortages in the district but Maranda was the worst hit.
“Yes I can confirm that there is need for more food. We will need even more towards January because even the few who had some grain from last year would have depleted their reserves,” said Chigwe.
Chief Maranda said villagers were skipping meals to stretch meagre supplies.
“The situation is dire here given the fact that a few, if any, managed to harvest anything meaningful last year,” said Chief Maranda.
“Some villagers have started depending on wild fruits with some having found solace from mangoes.”
The chief said the area was the driest in the province.
“Last season was characterised by high temperatures causing serious moisture stress to the heavily parched fields.”
However, Chief Chitanga from an adjacent area said he has not yet received complaints.
He said the government has distributed grain to families under the social welfare programme.
“In my area a few villagers harvested from their fields but I’m yet to get complaints of that nature. We’ve received some food aid from government but we need some more as we approach January,” said Chief Chitanga.
He said although the situation was not yet desperate, the government needed to increase food distribution to avert hunger.
Online Reporter