President Emmerson Mnangagwa said that his administration is mobilizing resources to ensure food security for both rural and urban communities amid the devastating El-Nino-induced drought.
He was speaking at the main Independence Day celebrations held in Murambinda, Buhera District, Manicaland Province, on Thursday, 18 April. He said:
This year’s celebrations come on the backdrop of the climate change-induced El Niño drought. It is the worst drought in 40 years, which is affecting the entire SADC region. I am aware that many of our communities, including here in Manicaland Province, have been affected by the low rainfall, which resulted in poor harvests.
As such, earlier this month, I invoked a nationwide State of Disaster on the Drought to allow our Government machinery and institutions to give special attention to mitigating the negative impact of the drought.
The Second Republic, under ZANU PF, is a people-centred Government, committed to wholeheartedly attending to the needs of our communities.
In both rural and urban areas, no Zimbabwean will succumb to starvation. Adequate resources are being mobilized towards national food security.
Mnangagwa announced that as part of the efforts to ensure food security, initiatives are underway to reactivate winter maize projects in warmer regions like Chiredzi, Muzarabani, and Binga. He said:
Drawing from our traditional heritage, cultural norms, and values, we are tackling drought in unity; no one and no place will be left behind.
My government is implementing a robust winter cropping program as we broaden our Strategic Grain Reserves.
Furthermore, measures are in place to reactivate winter maize projects in Chiredzi, Muzarabani, and Binga.
Throughout the summer cropping season spanning from October 2023 to April 2024, Zimbabwe and several other Southern African countries grappled with drought conditions, which resulted in reduced rainfall, crop failure, and livestock losses.
