Source: The Herald – Breaking news.
Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya (right) converses with Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere at the post-Cabinet media briefing at Munhumutapa Building in Harare yesterday. — Picture: Joshua Muswere 
Herald Reporter
The fourth Food Distribution Blitz is underway, having started on February 1 and is expected to end next month as the Second Republic ensures no one will starve, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere, has said.
Speaking at yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, Dr Muswere said Cabinet considered and noted the Report on the Food Deficit Mitigation Programme as presented by Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister, Edgar Moyo.
“The third blitz in terms of food distribution commenced on the 1st of November, 2024 and ended on the 31st January 2025, with deserving people having received assistance,” he said.
“The Government of Zimbabwe has distributed over 90 percent of the total grain to food insecure and vulnerable households while development partners distributed 10 percent.
“The 4th Blitz Food Distribution Phase commenced on 1st February and is expected to end on 31st March, 2025. The Government of Zimbabwe will undertake the First Round Crop Assessment to determine the likely harvest and the outlook is positive.”
Last year, President Mnangagwa declared the El-Nino induced drought, which decimated the country’s grain output, a state of disaster and activated the Government machinery to render assistance to the affected households to ensure no one starved.
The Government also appealed for assistance from development partners who have also been chipping in with food relief.
Since April last year when President Mnangagwa declared a “state of disaster” following the poor harvest, the Government, with support from development partners, has been feeding the people across the country.
Dr Muswere also gave an update on the President’s recent working visit to Ethiopia where he attended the African Union Summit.
“Zimbabwe participated in a number of bilateral and sideline meetings on the margins of the 38th African Union Summit.”
He said President Mnangagwa met the United Arab Emirates Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and emphasised that Zimbabwe was open for business.
The President also met President Daniel Chapo of Mozambique and held bilateral discussions.
“The two leaders reaffirmed the existing excellent Government-to-Government and party-to-party relations.”
The Zimbabwe delegation also met Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos.
“The two countries agreed to resume the Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation in Addis Ababa this year,” said Dr Muswere.
During the summit, President Mnangagwa led discussions on vital regional issues, notably the ongoing peace and security challenges in Sudan and the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
As chairperson of SADC, he advocated a unified peace process and humanitarian access in the DRC, reinforcing the region’s commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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