Mangwe Food for Assets launched

Norwel Chiguri, Chronicle Reporter
MANGWE District in Matabeleland South Province yesterday officially launched the food for assets programme to alleviate hunger in the area.

Speaking at the launch held in Tshitshi area, Mangwe District Administrator, Felicity Gangada, said under the programme, beneficiaries will provide labour in selected ward or village projects and will be given 50 kilogrammes of grain.

“We have already activated the food for asset programme and an example is the Tshitshi pipeline water project. I’m also aware that similar infrastructural developments are being undertaken in different wards,” she said.

Gangada said under the programme selected non-labour constrained household beneficiaries will provide labour in selected ward or village projects.

She said the participants will work for four hours per day for a total of 15 days per month then receive 50 kilogrammes monthly grain allocation.

“It must be noted that only labour endowed households will partake in food for assets programme while labour constrained households will receive free grain. The projects are to be identified and monitored by the community with the assistance of the Drought Relief Committee,” said Gangada.

She said the programme sought to reduce the dependence syndrome associated with food handouts.

The food for assets programme is part of the Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy (FDMS) that came after the declaration of drought as a state of disaster by President Mugabe on the 4th of January 2016.

In an interview, Chief Tshitshi said the five kilometre long water pipeline project would help to supply clean and taped water to homesteads and institutions in the area.

Local councillor, Sindisiwe Sibanda said they had managed to dig up a four kilometre trench for the pipe system and they had acquired most of the pipes. She said the pipe system will then be connected to an engine that has been installed at Ramokgwebana River.