‘No politics in food aid distribution’

IN Zimbabwe, the spirit of unity and impartiality guides the national food distribution initiative, as the Government ensures aid reaches all vulnerable families regardless of political leanings. This commitment aligns with the Second Republic’s inclusive philosophy.

Amid concerns of partisan bias in the Food Deficit Mitigation Programme (FDMP), the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, July Moyo reaffirmed the non-partisan nature of aid, stressing the role of local chiefs and headmen in identifying the needy.

With $44 billion allocated, the Government and World Food Programme have collaborated to combat food insecurity, distributing thousands of tonnes of cereals across the nation. As the country braces for the impact of El Nino, the Government prepares to extend its support to ensure no citizen is left hungry.

In an interview soon after witnessing the handover of maize meal to villagers at Nkenyane Business Centre in Ward 14, Bubi district yesterday, Minister Moyo spoke strongly against the use of party affiliation in the distribution of food aid.

“My emphasis was very clear and it’s still very clear and even the President’s emphasis in Somabhula is equally clear, he encouraged councillors, he did not say Zanu-PF, MDC or CCC councillors but those elected by the people are responsible for the wards but these wards fall under a Chief, headman and a village head who do not look at party structures but at people who are hungry in those areas, these are the two systems we are using,” said Minister Moyo.

He said various interested parties may be there but all is anchored on the systems entrusted by Government, adding that at ward level the assembly is chaired by a Chief or headman, not by a party person.

“These are the institutions that are neutral to party affiliation and also understand the people’s needs because they live with them,” said Minister Moyo.

Earlier on during a debriefing session, the assistant District Development Co-ordinator for Bubi, Ms Lorraine Ndou informed the minister that the district has 22 727 individuals out of a population of 74 084 that need food aid, representing 30,6 percent of the total population against a provincial percentage total of 42 percent or 347 611 individuals in the province.

At least 71 500 tonnes of cereals — maize, sorghum and millet — have been set aside for distribution to all 63 rural districts targeted under the programme.

The Government will be distributing food to 59 districts, while the World Food Programme will be operating in four districts; Mangwe in Matabeleland South, Buhera in Manicaland province, Mwenezi and Chivi in Masvingo province.

In an interview the World Food Programme deputy country director Christine Mendes who was also in Bubi yesterday, said starting for the period under review which is January to March, they will distribute around 8 000 metric tonnes.

“When the results of the assessment came out, we were partnering together with the Government and looked at the vulnerabilities and based on the resources that we had and with Government indicating that it will support the majority of the districts, we chose four of the top 10 most affected,” said Mendes, a Uganda national.

Meanwhile, Minister Moyo said Government is mopping up the food distribution exercise for the period under review and immediately after that, will embark on the next phase that will target the 2023/24 farming season which was badly affected by the El Nino weather phenomenon.

“We are mopping up those who were food insecure for the 2022/23 season but going forward now we have to look at what has happened in all districts and we actually see that there is devastation. The registration will start as soon as we get the actual figures from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Development and the Food and Nutrition Council,” said Minister Moyo.