Mugabe’s solution to hunger

They will need assistance

By Daniel Chigundu

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s new cabinet will be called early into action following stunning revelation by the World Food Program (WFP) that about 2.2 million of rural people face massive starvation early next year.

 The WFP says the magnitude of the hunger and affected areas are contained in the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC) rural livelihoods report were it is estimated that about one in every four rural people will need food assistance early 2014.

It is also believed that this will be the worst hunger since 2009 when more than half the population required food assistance.

In his speech at the official opening of the 103^rd edition of Harare Agricultural Show President Mugabe promised that his government would mobilise grain for the country through imports and other measures.

“In order to mitigate the effects of hunger, the government is mobilising grain from areas of surplus to needy areas. In addition, measures have been put in place to import grain from neighbouring countries.

“Going forward, it is government’s intention to ensure food self-sufficiency for the nation. Further to alleviate the adverse effects of the vagaries of climate change, government has developed multi-sectorial strategies in line with the Food and Nutrition Security Policy.

“More specifically in the agricultural sector, these involve enhancing the development of drought tolerant and short season crop varieties, the rehabilitation and development of irrigation infrastructure, promotion and adoption of technologies like conservation agriculture as well as promotion of water harvesting and water conservation techniques,” said Mugabe.

Although this is expected to be a test of character for the new government that will also have to deal with the liquidity crisis biting the economy, the WFP has indicated that it will work closely with government to help the affected.

“Many districts, particularly in the south, harvested very little and people are already trying to stretch out their dwindling food stocks.

“WFP is working closely with the government and partners to respond to the looming food crisis and will start food and cash distributions to the most vulnerable in October,” said WFP country director Sory Ouane.

Since the turn of the millennium when government implemented the chaotic land reform that was often accompanied with violence, Zimbabwe has struggled to meet its grain requirements.

Zimbabwe which before the land reform used to be the breadbasket of Africa has been relying on grain imports from South Africa and Zambia.

What makes the situation even harder for the country is that most beneficiaries of the land reform have since dumped the low paying maize, in favour of the highly priced tobacco.

Statistics on the ground indicate that Zimbabwe’s tobacco output has dramatically increased with a further increase expected in the coming season.

Tobacco statistics have also shown that about 163million kilograms of the golden leaf had gone under the hummer at various auction floors as at July 23.

During the tenure of the inclusive government President Mugabe attributed the country’s agricultural woes to deliberate under-funding by the former finance Minister Tendai Biti.