Hunger grips Mwenezi and Chiredzi districts

Hunger has tightened its grip in parts of Chiredzi and Mwenezi districts in Masvingo province, where recent heavy rains washed away crops leaving thousands of villagers with nothing to eat.

Government last year stopped giving free food aid to villagers in the whole country. Villagers said floods which hit parts of Masvingo last year washed away their crops, resulting in them harvest nothing. They have been relying on food reserves that have now run out.

Vengai Muchovo from Mazetese village in Mwenezi said that some villagers were spending days without a decent meal.

“We know that last year the whole country had a bumper harvest but the situation here is completely different,” said Muchovo. “The heavy rains that pounded the whole of Masvingo destroyed all our crops and we have been relying on strategic food reserves that have run out,” he said.

“What has worsened the situation is that over the past decade we have been receiving free food hand outs from the government due to poor harvests, but this year the government has told us that it has stopped giving free food,” said Muchovo.

The villagers have appealed to the government to resume the food aid facility.

“We are appealing to the powers that be so that starvation is averted,” said Shadreck Lisenga of Chiredzi.

“We have held several meetings in the area and have sent a delegation to Masvingo provincial affairs minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti,” he added.

“While food is available in supermarkets and rural shops we cannot afford to buy it because we do not have any source of income.”

“It is true that we have areas where people are facing hunger and I have since advised central government of the situation and I am just waiting for a response,” said Bhasikiti.

Chiredzi district administrator Clara Muzenda said that some areas in Chiredzi were severely affected by the heavy floods.

“We have raised this issue of starvation in some areas and I hope government is still to come up with a concrete position regarding helping those without food,” said Muzenda.

Post published in: Food

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