By Samuel Muzhingi
Harare – A staggering 35 percent of urban households in Zimbabwe, translating to approximately 1,732,770 people, are facing food insecurity, according to the latest report from the Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC).
The ZIMLAC report has attributed the food crisis to El Nino which hit Southern African countries including Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia among others.
Responding to questions from journalists during the post-cabinet media briefing, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Resettlement minister Anxious Masuka said government had put in place measures to ensure no one dies of hunger.
“Government is working hard to ensure that no one will die of hunger,” said Masuka who is also the deputy chairman of the cabinet committee on Food Security and Nutrition.
He assured the nation that government will be better organised to withstand similar shocks in future.
“Government assures citizens that Zimbabwe will emerge from this drought stronger, more united, more resilient, better organised, better coordinated, and better capable of withstanding similar shocks in future,” Dr Masuka stated.
ZIMLAC is aimed at providing comprehensive understanding of the food insecurity levels, nutritional status and access to basic services among the urban population.
Despite the high levels of food insecurity, the assessment showed that 79 percent of urban households have a high Dietary Diversity Score, consuming five or more food groups.
Furthermore, 71 percent of households maintain diets that include essential proteins like meat, fish, and eggs, supplemented by pulses, fruits and milk.
Meanwhile, the Second Round Crops, Livestock, and Fisheries Assessment highlighted the devastating effects of the El-Nino drought on agriculture with maize planting decreasing by 12 percent from the previous year, with only 1,777,540 hectares cultivated.
While there was a 16 percent increase in traditional grains planting, overall cereal production dropped by a staggering 77 percent, yielding only 744,271 metric tonnes out of an expected 2,579,237 metric tonnes.
Livestock losses have also been severe, with 9,941 cattle perishing due to water shortages and inadequate grazing.
The hardest hit areas include Tsholotsho and Binga in Matabeleland North, and Mangwe and Bulilima in Matabeleland South.
According to Masuka, “47% of the wards will face a critical grazing shortage from July 2024 onwards, while 12% are assured of adequate grazing to the next season.”
In response to the El Nino induced drought, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has since declared a state of Disaster while appealing for support from international humanitarian agencies to chip in with aid.
Government has also announced that it is now focused now on reducing reliance on rain-fed agriculture through the promotion of climate-proofed farming practices and the expansion of irrigation.
