Matabeleland rolls out grain scheme to vulnerable families

The scheme, which was recently launched by the Government for rural provinces, assists each family with 50kg of maize, which villagers will pay back after harvesting their maize crop.
In an interview yesterday, the Governor and Resident Minister for Matabeleland North, Thokozile Mathuthu, said the programme was being conducted through village heads in the province’s districts.
“We have been running the grain loan scheme for a number of weeks for the less privileged families. The programme is being done through the village heads and villagers have to apply before they can receive the grain,” said Governor Mathuthu, without giving the number of people who have benefited from the scheme.
“Initially, we wanted to open temporary depots where villagers could get the grain, but we realised that it would be a challenge for most of them to raise transport fares. We then decided to conduct the scheme through village heads, which are within their reach.”
Governor Mathuthu said the village heads were working in conjunction with the drought relief committee which is chaired by district administrators.
“A drought relief committee, led by our district administrators, is working hand in hand with the village heads in making sure that the programme is conducted transparently and fairly.
“The village heads also go through a vetting process after the villagers have applied for the grain, to make sure that it is given to deserving beneficiaries,” said Governor Mathuthu.
The Member of Parliament for Insiza North Constituency, in Matabeleland South, Cde Andrew Langa, said the programme started two weeks ago, although he lamented the slow pace at which it was being conducted.
“The Grain Marketing Board started distributing grain to vulnerable families two weeks ago and the Filabusi GMB has so far disbursed the grain to wards 1, 2, 3, 11, 13 and 20,” said Cde Langa.
He urged the Government to speed up the programme, as most villagers were in dire need of the grain.
“I am concerned that the scheme is moving at a snail’s pace. I was in Matobo District last Saturday and villagers there have not started receiving the grain. I understand that the GMB is not paying transporters on time, which has forced them to abandon the programme.
“I would like to urge the Government to take this scheme as a priority because most areas in the province are seriously in need of food,” said Cde Langa.
He said according to the Government, each ward in the province would be getting 400 bags of maize every month, which was, however, not possible, considering the slow pace at which the programme was being conducted.
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 certain 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.