Mash West braces for food aid

Walter Nyamukondiwa Chinhoyi Bureau
MINISTER of State for Mashonaland West province Webster Shamu has said contingent measures should be put in place to provide food relief to areas affected by the mid-season drought. Teams are already on the ground assessing the extent of exposure to the mid-season drought and areas that will need relief.

Minister Shamu said preliminary findings showed that some areas in the province would need assistance from Government urgently.

“We have sent teams across the province to assess the situation with regards to the issue of food security,” he said. “They will look at areas which are in need of food aid now, areas where crops have not done well because of the weather.

“The figures will be forwarded to central Government to see how best people can be assisted. With the way things are, there is need to start mobilising for the affected areas.” Agritex is conducting a crop assessment survey which is expected to inform Government intervention.

Minister Shamu said there was need to review the distribution of drought relief, as some people continuously benefited at the expense of others.

To that end, he said, interactions with the Department of Social Welfare were underway to see how best the process could be improved.

Minister Shamu said the province had vast underutilised dams which needed investment in irrigation infrastructure to minimise the effects of drought.

“There is need for serious investment in irrigation infrastructure so that we can fully utilise the high number of water bodies we have in the province,” he said. “We also have many rivers, but we need to also educate our people to prevent siltation and discharge of chemicals, especially for artisanal miners.”

Acting Makonde district administrator Joseph Manyurapasi said the district was getting feedback from councillors on families that needed to be assisted.

“Those vulnerable in the district have already been getting assistance from the Department of Social Welfare,” he said.
“However, councillors are now compiling lists of people that need assistance because of the nature of the season.”