EU forks out £853 000 for food aid in Mutare rural 

Source: EU forks out £853 000 for food aid in Mutare rural – herald

 

Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter

 

THE European Union – through the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) – partnered Government to feed 12 000 vulnerable people in Manicaland through the €853 000 kitty.

 

As the El Niño-induced drought threatens food security across the province, the targeted support has brought the much-needed reprieve to families hardest hit in rural parts of Mutare District.

 

Rolled out by CARE Zimbabwe in partnership with the Department of Social Development and Ministry of Health and Child Care, the intervention delivered comprehensive assistance rooted in the four key pillars – nutrition, crisis modifier, protection, and food security.

 

Through the monthly provision of full food baskets and tailored nutrition services, the programme is helping families navigate the peak hunger period, while reinforcing long-term community resilience.

 

Beneficiaries receive cereals, dried beans, kapenta, cooking oil, salt, and sugar – essential for survival and nutritional recovery.

 

Social development officer for Manicaland, Mr Joseph Mwanaka commended the initiative for complementing Government’s Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy, serving as a powerful example of what coordinated humanitarian partnerships can achieve.

 

“To complement Government’s efforts to end hunger in El Niño-affected areas through our food deficit mitigation programme, CARE came in with the ECHO project. We started by identifying the most vulnerable households using traditional and community leaders to ensure fairness and transparency.

 

We ranked everyone according to their vulnerability to hunger,” said Mr Mwanaka, adding that Mutare rural was one of the most severely impacted areas in the province, with the prolonged dry spell leading to critical food shortages and despair.

 

“This area was one of the most severely affected in the province, and we were facing a serious food crisis. The arrival of CARE and its consortium partners tapped into Government’s Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy.

 

The support we are seeing today is, not just about feeding people, but restoring dignity and saving lives. There has been a remarkable improvement. The comprehensive food and protection packages being distributed have made a real difference,” he said.

 

Children suffering from acute malnutrition, pregnant and lactating women, people with disabilities, the elderly, and survivors of Gender-Based Violence are prioritised. Distribution is based on household size and nutritional needs to ensure the most vulnerable are adequately supported.

 

CARE Zimbabwe team leader, Mr Shingirai Saruchera said the intervention is, not only addressing current hunger, but equipping communities to become more resilient in the face of future shocks.

 

“The goal is to ensure that drought-affected communities, not only survive, but become more resilient in the future. We are delivering a full food basket, while also addressing critical issues like malnutrition and Gender-Based Violence,” said Mr Saruchera, adding that the broader programme, supported by ECHO, CARE Zimbabwe and its consortium partners, Nutrition Action Zimbabwe and Padare Enkundleni Men’s Forum, has reached 24 800 individuals in Mutare District and Gokwe North.

 

The intervention also features a strong protection component, with Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response embedded at every stage.

 

Mr Saruchera said Padare Enkundleni Men’s Forum is playing a key role in implementing community-based prevention strategies and engaging men and boys in dialogue.

 

“Padare Enkundleni Men’s Forum is doing critical work in facilitating dialogue sessions and promoting community-based prevention strategies. We have also set up a toll-free line, staffed by trained counsellors, for psychosocial support and GBV referrals. This project brings dignity back to the families by supporting both their nutritional needs and their right to live free from violence,” he said.

 

The programme’s crisis modifier ensures that if other emergencies such as flooding or disease outbreaks arise during the implementation period, swift action can be taken in coordination with Government and other humanitarian actors.

 

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Tambudzai Sungwai from rural Mutare, said the food basket came at the perfect time for her struggling household.