adminIn separate interviews on Tuesday, villagers from such areas like Chavengwa, Mabika and Chaza said they were now on the verge of starvation.
“The hunger situation here in Mberengwa is very critical and we appeal to the Government to really do something to save us from imminent starvation,”said Mr Nkulumo Mpofu, who is Chavengwa village head.
Mr Mpofu said many households were now going for days without a meal on their table with some relying on wild fruits.
“What has made the situation very critical is that most non-governmental organisations which used to assist us have since withdrawn their aid. Some NGOs were donating food in schools with pupils getting food at school but this has since stopped. The majority of us are now relying on wild fruits,” he said.
Mrs Lynette Konzai from Mabika area said shop owners in the district were cashing in on the situation by inflating mealie-meal prices.
She said the situation has left the majority of them failing to raise money to buy even a five kilogramme bag of mealie-meal.
“A 5kg bag of mealie meal is going for between $8 and $ 9 in most shops here. It becomes hard to raise such an amount leaving us facing possible starvation,” she said.
Mr Tatambanavo Zhou said the Government should quickly introduce food for work programme in the area to avert hunger.
“We appeal to the Government to introduce food for work programmes because we expect nothing from our fields for the third consecutive year. This is a drought prone area and our Members of Parliament are doing little to help us get out of this,” he said.
Member of Parliament for Mberengwa West constituency, Cde Joram Gumbo, who was personally approached and briefed about the situation by villagers during the burial of legendary musician, Andy Brown, admitted that something urgent needed
to be done to assist the hunger stricken villagers.
“The situation is critical here and as representative of Mberengwa in Parliament, we really need to do something to assist these people,” said Cde Gumbo in an interview.
Cde Jumbo said the situation has resulted in many male and female youths in Mberengwa finding their way into neighbouring South Africa without legal documents.
“The hunger situation is forcing many youths to illegally cross into neighbouring South Africa. Those who remain in the country turn to illegal gold panning and there is really need for Government to act and assist in the situation,” he said.
Online Reporter