The Sunday News
Sharon Chimenya, Masvingo Correspondent
THE World Food Programme (WFP) is set to discontinue its monetary assistance to more than 9 000 people in Masvingo urban with effect from this month, citing resource constraints.
The WFP has been offering assistance to 9 982 people in the city but the global organisation has since written to the city council advising that due to resource constraints, the cash disbursement programme will be discontinued.
“Consideration was given to the report of the acting director of housing and social services on the changes regarding the United Nations World Food Programme Urban Social Assistance and Resilience Building Programme where World Food Programme provided food assistance to vulnerable households in Masvingo urban.
It was reported that WFP had written advising that the food assistance programme (cash disbursements) project would not go beyond June 2022 although resilience building activities would continue,” read part of the minutes of the Health, Housing and Environmental Services committee.
The report added that the acting director of housing and social services was instructed to invite WFP to the next meeting to discuss their decision to discontinue the cash/food assistance programme. Meanwhile, the Masvingo city is set to recapitalise the Masvingo Urban Poor Fund (MUPF) in which the local authority will inject US$50 000 per year towards the fund.
According to the minutes of the Finance and General Purpose Committee, consideration was given to the report of the acting director of housing and social services Mr Simbarashe Mandishona on the recapitalisation of Masvingo Urban Poor Fund. It was reported that following the recommendation of the technical committee meeting held in February this year, it was requested the local authority to make a financial contribution to the jointly established Masvingo Urban Poor Fund.
The request was being driven by the increasing demand for affordable finance by the marginalised citizens in Masvingo. The governance of the fund is jointly done through the representation from Masvingo City Council, Dialogue on Shelter and Zimbabwe Homeless People’s Federation representing Masvingo community.
“In pursuit of the need to grow the fund and scale up its activities, the technical team proposed that city of Masvingo may inject US$50 000 per year towards MUPF. The Masvingo Urban Poor Fund (MUPF) was a joint financial vehicle aimed at providing affordable livelihood financial support to the residence of Masvingo City.”
Since its inception in 2021 with a seed capital of US$20,000, the MUPF disbursed US$102 600 in February this year to 151 loan groups.
“It was advised that council had not made a budgetary provision in the current year 2022 but provision would be made for 2023. Council would provide for the request either in the supplementary budget for 2022 or in the 2023 council budget. The idea was accepted. It was resolved to recommend that the acting finance director be instructed to make a budgetary provision of US$50 000 in the 2022 supplementary budget or in the 2023 Council budget for capital injection into the Masvingo Urban Poor Fund (MUPF) being contribution to the fund.”
