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Ambassador Iwado

Lovemore Meya recently in Chiredzi
Japan has donated food assistance worth $1,2 million to 1 900 households in Chiredzi under the Productive Asset Creation project.

The project is aimed at meeting people’s immediate food security needs while increasing their resilience through initiating projects that generate income and reduce reliance on external assistance.

The project, identified by the World Food Programme and being implemented by Plan International is expected to be complete by end of October.

Addressing villagers during the handover of Chipile Weir under Chief Sengwe in Bondela on Wednesday, Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Toshiyuki Iwado said the project seeks to help people in drought-stricken areas of the country.

“I am here to show that Japan is staying close to the people of Chiredzi District. Following our support through the World Food Programme last year, Japan is once again supporting the people of Chiredzi District by providing food and productive asset creation opportunities.

“I hope that this food, 570 tonnes of maize, 114 tonnes of pulses and over 40 000 litres of cooking oil, will bring some relief to 1 900 households over the next six months. I hope that the productive asset creation opportunities will make you more resilient against natural threats in the future.”

World Food Programme, country director, Mr Eddie Rowe applauded the Chiredzi community for its resilience.

Mr Rowe

“We are gathered here to celebrate the handover of the Chipile Weir and nutritional garden, which is a testimony to the commitment of this community, our partners, Plan International, our Government, and that of Japan.

“I see progress on this site, a landscape that is thirsty for rainfall — rains which are historically erratic and too often insufficient. The community here depends on seasonal rains to feed the river and provide water for agriculture, livestock and their own daily needs,” he said.

He said Chiredzi has been experiencing erratic rains, which was worsened by last year’s El Nino-induced drought.

“This has caused suffering in many families. I, however, see 550 committed and powerful individuals, who are taking control of their lives through their own hands working on this site.

“This community is a model of empowerment.”

Plan International country director, Mr William Mutero said Chipire Weir came up as a community-based participatory and asset prioritisation programme where water harvesting was the priority.

One of the beneficiaries Ms Ennie Musengi (65) of Ramathaka Village said the donation will help improve their lives.

“We would like to thank the people who have made this programme a success. The dam that we are constructing is going to help us in harvesting water in this area because we did not receive enough rains last season.

“The food handouts also came when we needed them most and this will last us for some time until we get this project going when the rains start falling,” she said.

The programme is also expected to see WFP providing food assistance to 11 436 people in Rushinga and Chiredzi districts in exchange for labour to construct 10 productive assets such as small dams, irrigation schemes and dip tanks.