Government extends food distribution programme in rural provinces… Responds to distress calls, effects of Cyclone Freddy

Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter

THE Government has extended food distribution under the Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy while increasing caseloads from March to May in response to distress calls and other emergencies such as effects of Cyclone Freddy.

Responding to questions from Sunday News, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Mr Simon Masanga confirmed the increase in caseloads as well as the extension of the distribution programme.

“According to the Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy manual, the FDMS has four phases where distributions are supposed to stop at the end of March of every distribution cycle. However, due to distress calls that the ministry continuously received and other emergencies such as effects of the just ended Cyclone Freddy, there was an extension of food distributions under the FDMS and an increase in the caseloads from March to May 2023 across the eight rural provinces.

During the peak hunger period (January-March, 2023), Government was reaching out 371 422 beneficiaries in Matabeleland North while 202 108 beneficiaries were targeted in Matabeleland South. The provincial caseloads have however, increased to 597 767 and 307 742 beneficiaries respectively,” said Mr Masanga.

He said Matabeleland South’s allocation was 3 077,42 metric tonnes for the province’s seven districts and was distributed to 307 742 beneficiaries while Matabeleland North had a caseload of 597 767 beneficiaries requiring 5 977,67 metric tonnes of grain per month.

The programme roll-out started in October 2022 and has now been extended to May to ensure people are mitigated against hunger. Targeting of eligible beneficiaries is done using the management information system before distributions commence.

“There have been adjustments made in the allocations to respond to the insecurities and vulnerabilities of the people. Regular and deliberate evaluation and monitoring exercises of the programme are conducted to ensure that the FDMS is being implemented effectively,” said Mr Masanga.
He said the FDMS was being implemented in all 60 rural districts across the country.

“The distribution is not one size fits all but considerations and prioritisations of the respective districts’ allocations are based on food insecurities and vulnerabilities as indicated by results of the ZimVAC Livelihood Assessments, Crop and Livestock surveys which are conducted in all districts nationwide and these guide implementations,” said Masanga.