Govt intensifies food relief

GOVERNMENT has intensified the distribution of food relief in the Midlands, with all the districts now getting their share every month.

Midlands Provincial Administrator Mr Abiot Maronge said district administrators were overseeing the programme so that everyone had enough food as the country prepares for the 2018/ 2019 farming season.

“We have upped the programme in all the districts in the province,” he said.

“The district administrators are making sure that those in need of food get assistance in line with the Government policy that no one should starve.”

Mr Maronge said there was enough grain for the food relief programme in the province. He said the districts that were affected by the El Nino-induced floods last year were getting priority, with villagers getting their monthly rations on time.

He said the food relief programme will continue into the New Year.

Traditional leaders in the province hailed the programme, saying it has saved thousands of people from starving.

Chief Chireya of Gokwe North said the majority of people in Gokwe did not harvest anything last year due to floods.

“Last year in Gokwe we had long dry spells that were followed by floods and in the end the majority of people could not realise anything from their fields,” he said.

“The Government’s food relief programme is the one that is helping us a lot in terms of food. Thousands of people could have starved if there was no such facility from Government.”

Chief Chireya bemoaned long distances that some of his subjects walk to get their food rations.

Chief Maziofa of Mberengwa said Government’s food relief programme had always been the hope for many in the area.

“Mberengwa has become a perennial drought area,” he said.

“We heavily rely on Government assistance for food.”