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Cletus Mushanawani Mash Central Bureau
A TOTAL of 70 080 households are in need of food aid in Mashonaland Central, with Mbire District being the most affected as most transporters shun the terrain.

The shunning of Mbire District by transporters has left 18 000 households vulnerable to hunger. Mashonaland Central provincial administrator, Mr Cosmas Chiringa, said: “We have a challenge with transporters who are shunning delivering maize to Mbire because of the rugged terrain. Each time a transporter is contracted he will never return after a single delivery.

“Most households are facing hunger and we are appealing to the Zimbabwe National Army to come to the villagers’ rescue by availing some of their trucks to carry grain to Mbire. Government should also mobilise trucks from the Central Mechanical Engineering Department to help in transporting grain to Mbire. “The situation is not looking good at the moment. Most crops are almost a write-off and immediate intervention is needed.” In a statement, the provincial social welfare office said: “There are delays in grain movement specifically in Mbire District. The month of November only 90 tonnes were moved to Mushumbi Depot. However, during the month of December there was a great improvement to 850 tonnes.

“Mbire District has a monthly allocation of 900MT per month and it was recommended that the depot should have at least four-month supplies of 3 600 tonnes, but this has not materialised.

Another challenge is the in-consistence disbursements of drought relief administration funds in the province.

The last allocation was received in August last year.”

According to statistics availed by the Mashonaland provincial Social Welfare offices, a total of 70 080 households are in need of food aid, with Mbire, Mt Darwin, Rushinga and Muzarabani districts having already requested for an increase in grain allocation. While other districts are easily accessible, Mbire District is the most vulnerable because of its rugged terrain as most transporters never return after a single delivery. The second most vulnerable district is Mt Darwin where 12 380 households are in need of food aid, followed by Muzarabani (9 400 households), Rushinga (9 200), Guruve (5 700), Mazowe (5 700), Shamva (4 900) and Bindura (4 800).

Mt Darwin, Rushinga and Muzarabani districts have since requested for an increase of grain allocation from 619 tonnes, 460 tonnes and 470 tonnes to 1 100 tonnes respectively.