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Midlands Bureau
Traditional leaders in the Midlands province have sent an SOS for food aid to Government saying most of their subjects were now in dire need of food.

Most parts of the Midlands province were hard hit by drought with some families reportedly now struggling to put food on the table.

In separate interviews, the chiefs said there was urgent need for Government to up its food relief programme to avoid starvation among their subjects.

“There is really need for an urgent Government intervention, providing food aid in most parts of Gokwe. Most villagers are in dire need of food aid following two successive years of drought,” said Chief Chireya of Gokwe,

Chief Nemangwe from Gokwe South said the Government food aid was being given sparingly in his area.

“The aid is not enough, a family of, say, eight people is given a 50kg bag for three months. I don’t think it is enough.

“Government needs to do something to help us. We have nowhere to turn to except our Government,” he said

Chief Mposi of Mberengwa said his subjects were now disposing of their livestock in exchange for food.

“It’s a dire situation here in Mberengwa, people are selling off their livestock for a song in desperation. We appeal for Government intervention because people are being ripped off,” he said.

Midlands Provincial Administrator Mr Abiot Maronge recently said Government was still rolling out its food relief programmes through the district administrators.