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Brenda Ziga recently in Chiredzi
The United Nations Humanitarian Emergency Assistance is providing cash and food to over 22 000 households in Chiredzi to mitigate the effects of drought.

Chiredzi is one of the most drought-prone areas in Zimbabwe.

At least 52 897 rural households in Chiredzi are said to be food insecure due to the effects of El Nino-induced drought.

Addressing journalists in Chiredzi recently, United Nations Resident Coordinator Mr Bishow Parajuli said the world body was working closely with the Government in averting the effects of drought.

“The UN is providing assistance through its agencies, which are Plan International, Oxfam and World Food Programme among others. The assistance is in form of cash transfers and food items.

“We are also giving people in these areas skills, trainings and support in terms of farming. We revived Magogogwe Irrigation Scheme here in Chiredzi to ensure food security at household level.

“We are going to rehabilitate more irrigation schemes. We also need to identify more people who were mostly affected by drought who need emergence assistance,” he said.

He applauded the Government for ensuring that there was no politicisation of food aid.

“The Government is ensuring that there is no politicisation of food aid. It is making sure that there is equal distribution of the aid among those in need,” he said.

Mr Parajuli hailed families who were saving money to buy inputs for the preparation of the 2016-17 summer cropping season.

“Families from the Magogogwe Irrigation Scheme are selling their produce to generate income. They are also saving money. I am also reliably informed that each group has managed to save about $1 700 to $1 800, which is motivating.

“They also told me that they are saving money to buy inputs like seeds and herbicides to prepare for the next summer cropping season,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Ms Silibaziso Wachi from Mapolisa Village, said the rehabilitation of Magogogwe Irrigation Scheme assisted her to put food on the table for her family.