The Sunday News
Nontobeko Mlotshwa, BusinessReporter
THE Government will stop distributing grain to vulnerable persons at the end of the month to pave way for a re-targeting exercise.
In a statement, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima said the re-targeting exercise will be done in collaboration with development partners upon release of results of the upcoming Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC) Rural Livelihoods survey.
“Food distribution will temporarily stop so that it paves way for re-targeting exercise which will be done in collaboration with development partners upon release of results from ZimVAC,” he said.
The re-targeting exercise is premised on the basis that the 2020-2021 season had normal to above normal rainfall.
“The country received good rains at the beginning of the farming season and with that in mind, we are temporarily stopping food distribution with the hope that every family managed to produce their own food for the time when we will be doing the survey.
During this re-targeting exercise, Drought Relief Committees are expected to respond to distress calls only and those that really need food assistance after thorough assessment,” said Prof Mavima.
He said the exercise will enable the Government to revert to the stipulated cycle of the Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy (FDMS).
“My ministry in collaboration with development partners has already embarked on an exercise to review the tools that will be used during the re-targeting of eligible beneficiaries and the overall implementation of the programme,” said Prof Mavima.
The Government has been reaching out to 735 455 households requiring 36 773 million tonnes of grain per month.
