Gibbs Dube
20.03.2013
WASHINGTON — Humanitarian aid workers and villagers in some parts of Manicaland, Masvingo and Matabeleland region say the food situation is deteriorating with families failing to access a meal per day especially in areas where crops have failed due to severe weather conditions.
They say most fields in Matabeleland and Masvingo provinces have turned into dust bowls due to lack of rains while those in Manicaland, Mashonaland East and Midlands South are experiencing serious water logging.
Nyanga South lawmaker Willard Chimbetete said some villagers are now surviving on food handouts from relatives at a time when they are supposed to be eating green mealies or some other farm produce.
“We are supposed to be feeding our families from subsistence agricultural produce but most villagers want food aid due to serious food shortages,” said Mr. Chimbetete.
Interview With Willard Chimbetete
Former Christian Care director Forbes Matonga said villagers in Mutoko and other areas in Mashonaland East need urgent food aid as their crops have been affected by water logging.
Matonga, who is currently a pastor at Nyadiri Mission, Mashonaland East Province, said crops in Mutoko were devastated by heavy rains.
“We hope the government will take urgent measures to ensure that no one will die of starvation,” he said.