Logistical problems hamper food relief

Masvingo Bureau
LACK of transport is hampering Government efforts to move food relief to hunger-stricken villagers in remote parts of Masvingo.
Over 400 000 people are in need of food assistance after failed harvests last season owing to erratic rainfall. Government has so far managed to deliver nearly 10 000 tonnes of grain to various GMB depots across the province, but movement of the food to remote areas is a nightmare owing to lack of transport.

Masvingo provincial administrator Cde Felix Chikovo on Wednesday said the provincial task force on food distribution had started asking villagers to make financial contributions to hire trucks to take grain to their areas.

Mr Chikovo said in areas where villagers have already paid for transport, grain has been speedily delivered.
“We have been receiving maize supplies from Government through our GMB depots across the province and most of our depots now have stocks of maize grain for onward distribution to the communities, but the major challenge that we have been facing is lack of transport to move the grain to these areas most of them which are remote and difficult to access, he said.

A strategy has however been devised where villagers in need of grain have been asked to contribute some money towards hiring trucks that carry their grain this has been very fruitful in some areas as people managed to get their food on time.’’

Mr Chikovo said Government was also courting some development partners such as the World Food Programme to assist in the provision of food to avert starvation.

WFP, he said, has already indicated its readiness to start food relief assistance in Masvingo until the next harvest season next year.
Government is providing food relief to hunger-stricken villagers in Masvingo with the province getting maize supplies from other provinces that had surpluses while imports from Zambia were augmenting those stocks.

Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti has assured people in the province that Government would do its best to ensure that no one starves.

He also urged farmers in the province to shift towards small grains which are drought-tolerant to avert hunger in the drought prone region.

Most villagers in remote rural areas are buying food from shops but shortage of money has left many of them on the brink of starvation prompting chiefs in the province to appeal for Government assistance.

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