The Government has provided food to 7 million people who are struggling to get enough to eat.
At a recent meeting in Harare, Public Service Minister July Moyo explained how the Government, working with the World Food Programme (WFP), is addressing the country’s food shortages.
The meeting was held in response to calls for help due to a food shortage crisis. Minister Moyo said that after assessing the situation, they identified 6.1 million people in rural areas and 1.7 million in urban areas in need of food. The food deliveries have already reached over 90% of those in rural areas.
Minister Daniel Garwe, who chaired the meeting, mentioned that a Drought Flash Appeal was launched to raise $429 million to help nearly 3.1 million people. This is part of a larger appeal for $3.3 billion to address various needs, including agriculture, health, and water.
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The El Nino-induced drought has caused severe hunger across the region. Some areas received very little rainfall, affecting agriculture and other critical sectors. The Government plans to help 7.7 million people, including six million in rural areas.
Starting in July 2024, the Government will also waive import duties on essential items like rice, potato seeds, and cooking oil to ease the food shortage. They are also closely monitoring the import of genetically modified feed.
Minister Garwe praised the support from the UN and other partners. Minister Masuka highlighted efforts to increase food production, including a projected surplus of 240,000 tonnes of wheat from winter crops.
WFP official Valerie Guarnieri praised the Government’s efforts to combat hunger.
