Tafadzwa Nyikadzino

The El Nino-induced drought which hit the country during the 2023/24 farming season has put 7.7 million people in need of food assistance between May 2024 and March 2025 according to the government of Zimbabwe.

Addressing journalists yesterday during a post cabinet briefing,  the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Jenfan Muswere said the government recently completed the second round of the Crops, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment of April 18, 2024 and the Rapid Village-based Food Assessment concluded on April 15. The assessments revealed that 51% of the country’s population is in need of food assistance to mitigate hunger.

“The Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee Report (ZimLAC) indicated that six million people in rural areas and 1,7 million people who reside in urban areas will require food assistance between May 2024 and March 2025. A total of 7,7 million people, being 51% of the population,  will require food assistance. This excludes a further 4,5 million who will require school meals,” Dr Muswere said.

Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka said the recent assessment revealed that the country now needs over US$3 Billion to mitigate hunger. He said those in need of food will get 7.5kgs of grain per month.

“The total in the appeal, you will find, will just be over US$3 billion because the President announced what is known in terms of the risk disaster framework, the search and rescue, thus, identifying the people that are vulnerable and the requirements.

“People will receive 7,5kg per month but to reduce transport cost we will give each one to last three months. We have enough apparatus within the government system to intervene should there be profiteering by the private sector. I urge you to alert us whenever you see a 10kg of mealie-meal going for over US$6,50,” Masuka said.

The country currently has 423 779 tonnes of grain stocks at the Grain Marketing Board which falls short of the country’s demand.