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The scheme, which was launched by the Government for rural provinces, assists each family with 50kg of maize, which villagers would pay after recording significant harvests.
Addressing villagers from Ward 11 at a ceremony in Filabusi at Sikuta Business Centre yesterday, the Member of the House of Assembly for Insiza North, Cde Andrew Langa, urged the Government to extend the programme, saying Matabeleland South was facing serious food shortages.
“I would like to first appreciate the work done by President Mugabe to support families in Matabeleland region where a serious drought is looming due to the erratic rains received in this farming season. Most families in the region have no food and there will be a big problem when the programme ends.
“We are calling on the Government to have mercy on the people of Matabeleland and continue assisting the families until the next farming season because most of their crops are a write-off,” said Cde Langa.
He said the 400 bags of maize that was received by every ward on a monthly basis were not enough to feed more than 1 000 households found in some wards.
“The maize that we are receiving is not enough to feed the 1 000 households that are in this ward. We are also calling on the Government to at least consider that other wards have more households and allocate more maize to such wards,” said Cde Langa.
He also lamented reports of corruption in the districts, saying traditional leaders should ensure that there is transparency in the distribution of the grain.
The councillor for the ward, Abdale Nkomo said the scheme had helped relieve villagers of hunger though the maize was not enough to cater for everyone.
“The scheme has been helpful but we are kindly asking the Government to increase the number of bags that we are receiving as a ward.
“The 400 bags do not cater for half of us and this affects us greatly because villagers have to take turns in receiving the maize,” said Clr Nkomo.
He said most Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) had threatened to withdraw their assistance in terms of food and if Government did not intervene many families were going to starve.
Mrs Simangaliso Mpofu, a coordinator for the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development in the ward said the scheme had eased the burden of women in the area.
“The scheme has helped us as women to fend for our families and we appreciate the work done by our leaders to support us. Whenever there is drought, it is mostly women who suffer because they are the ones who on a daily basis look after the children,” said Mrs Mpofu.
Recent reports from the drought stricken provinces showed that the shortage of food had reached alarming levels, affecting livestock, which had started dying from hunger.
Villagers from different districts in the provinces said they were now surviving on wild fruits and roots of some trees.
They said vulnerable members of the community, who include child-headed families, widows, people living with disabilities and HIV and Aids and the elderly were the most affected.
Online Reporter