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Joseph Madzimure-Senior Reporter

At least 1,7 million people in urban areas will start receiving cash transfers under the Urban Cash Transfer and Movement of Grain Programme which is meant to alleviate hunger in cities and towns.

Responding to questions from journalists during a post-Cabinet media briefing in Harare yesterday, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister July Moyo, said they have concluded the selection process and beneficiaries will start receiving cash in their accounts this week.

“We have finished the selection process. There is a long process that we had to engage in. First, we are going to give this as cash transfers, so we had to select a network that we will use to transfer cash to recipients.

“We have selected NetOne after a competition and the ministry is now transferring cash to all the people who have been selected through their phone numbers. The money that we are loading is coming from the ministry.

“That process is going on and some will definitely start receiving their money this week,” said Minister Moyo.

Loading of the cash into the selected network provider started last week.

Speaking at the same occasion, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere, assured the nation that food for 9,2 million people is available until March 2025.

He said as of September 26, 2024, a cumulative total of 68 745.72 metric tonnes had been moved across the country under the Second Phase of the Blitz Grain Distribution Programme.

Dr Muswere said all Chiefs were allocated 5 metric tonnes per ward to assist families in distress despite the general allocation given to El Nino-induced drought-affected persons.

“As of September 26, 2024, a cumulative total of 9 605.95 metric tonnes of mealie meal or maize grain had been collected under the Emergency School Feeding Programme.

“The Urban-Cash-for-Cereal Programme is progressing well and it is expected that the generality of the population will start receiving cash transfers,’’ said Dr Muswere.

President Mnangagwa has said no one will die of hunger as arrangements have been made for all food insecure people to receive assistance.