By Staff Reporter
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has on Wednesday declared a State of National Disaster following the El Nino induced drought that hit the country in the 2023-24 agricultural season.
Mnangagwa addressed the nation at State House this morning where he said the Livelihood Assessment Committee Report indicated that 2.7 million people will be expected to be food insecure from March 2023 to April 2024.
“The Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee Report for 2023 revealed that approximately 2.7 million people were expected to be food insecure from April 2023 until end of March 2024. While we have been able, so far to fend for this food insecure population, the El Nino drought has now compounded our current situation, with food insecurity levels raised beyond the projected 2.7 million,” said Mnangagwa.
He further said the country has a food cereal deficit of 680 000 metric tonnes of grain with the 2023-24 season expected to contribute 868 273 metric tonnes.
“We expect 868 273 metric tonnes from this season’s harvest, our nation faces food cereal deficit of nearly 680 000 metric tonnes of grain. This deficit will be bridged by imports,” added Mnangagwa.
He appealed for donations to ameliorate the state of disaster adding that the country requires in excess of US$2 billion towards the various interventions that will be put in place to address the crisis.
“By this declaration, I also call upon all Zimbabweans of goodwill, including those in the diaspora, the international community, United Nation Agencies, Development and Humanitarian Partners, International Financial Institutions, the private sector, churches and other faith based organisation, as well as individuals to generously donate towards ameliorating this State Of National Disaster.
“Preliminary assessments show that Zimbabwe requires in excess of US$2 billion towards various interventions we envisage in the spectrum of our national response,” said Mnangagwa.
Below is the link to the President’s speech, click link to open.
