The Sunday News
Tinomuda Chakanyuka Sunday News Reporter
THE Government has availed 30 tonnes of maize to be distributed to vulnerable people in need of food assistance in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province under the Government drought mitigation programme. Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Cde Tapiwa Matangaidze yesterday said the grain was being availed in response to distress calls from local Members of Parliament. He was speaking at the inaugural Zim Asset Bulawayo stakeholders’ conference which ended yesterday in the city adding that distribution of the maize to beneficiaries will start “with immediate effect”. Cde Matangaidze said although an objective assessment of the vulnerability and food insecurity levels in urban areas had not been conducted, the Government found it necessary to respond to Bulawayo’s calls for food relief.
“Our Ministry has been inundated with distress calls appealing for food mitigation. MPs from Bulawayo have always taken any opportunity to ask this important question, ‘why food mitigation programmes haven’t extended to metropolitan settlements?’
“MPs are citing effects of El Nino in buttressing their appeals. I won’t debate the merits of that approach. Suffice to accept that, there might be a genuine case for food mitigation in some instances. His Excellency (President Mugabe), through our ministry has made an initial response to your MPs’ distress calls. Minister Mupfumira has allowed me to come and tell this meeting that we will avail 30 tonnes of maize in response to the call,” he said.
Cde Matangaidze appealed for objectivity in the selection of beneficiaries in the distribution of grain which he said must target vulnerable groups in society. He said distribution of the grain which will be handled by his Ministry and the office of Provincial Affairs for Bulawayo Province will prioritise people who are on the Public Assistance Programme (PAP).
Cde Matangaidze pointed out that there was a need for a programme to assess levels of vulnerability and food insecurity in urban settlements to allow Government to make informed drought relief interventions.
The number of food insecure people is steadily rising countrywide putting pressure on the country’s food reserves as effects of the El Nino weather phenomenon have set in. President Mugabe has declared the drought a State of Disaster and the Government has launched an international drought relief appeal for an estimated US$1,6 billion. The Government this year acquired 700 000 tonnes of grain to respond to the food shortages. Over 600 000 households are receiving a monthly ration of 50 kilogrammes of maize each under the Vulnerable Food Assistance Programme.
