via Govt needs $300m for food imports | The Herald June 16, 2015
At least $300 million is required to import food due to the poor harvest that was recorded during the 2014-15 season, Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.
Speaking during the official launch of the Zimbabwe Zero Hunger Strategic Review Report yesterday, Cde Mnangagwa said Government was sourcing the funds from different stakeholders to assist the drought affected areas.
“Approximately $300 million is required to import food to cover the deficit and see us through to the next harvest, hoping that it will be significantly better than the current one,” he said.
“While we need 1,4 million tonnes of maize a year for consumption, our produce for the 2014-15 season has gone down by approximately 49 percent.
“I am therefore calling upon all our partners, from development agencies and the private sector, to assist us in providing the necessary resources to ensure that none of the communities nationwide is exposed to hunger and starvation.”
The Zimbabwe Zero Hunger Strategic Review Plan, which was produced by the World Food Programme, is aimed at reducing food shortages in the country.
The objective of the review report was to establish a comprehensive understanding of the context and status regarding food and nutrition security and facilitate development of a national zero hunger roadmap.
The report reviews relevant statutes, protocols and frameworks at national, regional and global level that underpin Zimbabwe’s response to food and nutrition security.
“I am encouraged by the observation from the review that the country has a conducive policy environment and has put adequate structures to address food and nutrition security,” said the Acting President.
“All we need to do then is follow up with carefully crafted monitoring and evaluation plans to ensure an implementation process that leads to observable results.”
Cde Mnangagwa said the initiative by the World Food Programme was capable of enhancing community resilience through diversified agricultural production.
“The initiative integrates principles of sustainable land management, gender main streaming and food security,” he said.
The launch of the report was running under the theme: “A Zimbabwe free from hunger and malnutrition”.
COMMENTS
Give $300mil to ZANU. Madness
51% OF STUPIDITY.
Now the whites has to help again. Where are all the successful farmers…..oh yes their farms were taken and some were killed. When will the whites ever learn that it is a bottemless pit
It is truly madness and evil to give Mugabe’s government/ZANU $300m of food aid. The acting VP says “I am encouraged by the observation from the review that the country has a conducive policy environment and has put adequate structures to address food and nutrition security. All we need to do then is follow up with carefully crafted monitoring and evaluation plans to ensure an implementation process that leads to observable results.” To my mind that this ZANU speak for “If the West (who we hate) give us $300m food aid we will make sure it only goes to ZANU party members so will gain all ways round. No provision for anyone starving who doesn’t happen to support ZANU and we wont let food out to anyone UNLESS they join.