Moffat Mungazi
Samuel Kadungure
News Editor
MANICALAND has made significant strides in grain distribution, with the latest report showing that 7 195,43 metric tonnes (26,1 percent) were distributed to hard-pressed rural citizens, while an additional 2 453,029 metric tonnes (56 percent) were disbursed under the school feeding programme throughout the province.
The Government’s initiative has ensured that vulnerable families have food on the table, while also providing learners with a hot meal per day.
This also had a positive impact on school attendance and pass-rates.
Under the school feeding programme — in Buhera, all targeted schools have collected a cumulative total of 693 352 metric tonnes (100 percent), while in Nyanga, the schools collected 250,55 metric tonnes, representing 25,59 percent of its target.
Makoni District saw 1111 schools collecting the grain, with a district cumulative total of 457 600 metric tonnes (64,9 percent).
Other districts reported the following cumulative collections Mutasa — 107,82mt (17 percent); Chipinge — 781,31mt (95 percent); Chimanimani — 34,4mt (10 percent) and Mutare — 336,15mt (35 percent), giving a provincial cumulative of 2 453, 029mt, representing 56 percent of the target.
A total of 692,65mt were distributed under the Zunde RaMambo programme.
Manicaland is in dire need of food aid due to a combination of factors that have severely impacted food security.
The province has experienced a severe El Nino-induced drought that resulted in poor harvests, leading to food shortages.
The drought was coupled with general economic challenges which reduced household incomes, making it difficult for families to afford basic necessities, including food.
Acting Secretary for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Mr Past-tense Tarondwa said Government and its partners are committed to ensure that the citizenry is food and nutrition secure through cash and grain disbursements in rural and urban areas, respectively.
“As Government, we are working tirelessly to ensure that grain is delivered to Chimanimani, Chipinge, Mutasa and Nyanga so that our people get the much needed food support. The province has embraced the Government led “local initiative”, whereby communities organise themselves to ensure that the grain is moved from GMB depots to their food distribution points, of course, without disadvantaging those who cannot fully participate in the initiatives as a result of incapacitation,” said Mr Tarondwa.
Mr Tarondwa urged Members of National House of Assembly and the local business community to also chip in and participate in these arrangements that will ensure that grain is moved to the people.
“The community leadership must therefore form synergies with local MPs and businesspeople. I must emphasize that these arrangements should never, at any point disadvantage, discriminate, alienate, overcharge/tax or create conditions that will see our people failing to access the grain — no one should be left behind,” he said.
On cash for cereals, Mr Tarondwa said Government is also working flat out to ensure that all records are cleaned and properly captured before releasing the funds.
“Payments will be processed very soon. Government is committed to pay these funds anytime soon,” he said.
He, however, admitted that the distribution process is facing challenges as transporters threaten to withdraw services due to shortage of fuel and unpaid salaries for their workers, resulting from delayed payments.
The Manicaland Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy and Urban Cash for Cereals report released on December 30, 2024 showed that in — Buhera 149,55mt were distributed from November to the reporting date, with the district cumulative now at 1 745,72mt — which is about 33 percent of its total allocation.
Of late, no distribution has taken place in Chimanimani and Chipinge districts due to grain shortages.
Chimanimani’s cumulative remains at zero, while Chipinge’s is at 467,85mt, a lowly 8,8 percent of the dry districts’ total allocation up to the end of December 2024.
Despite the availability of grain at Grain Marketing Board depots in Makoni, no distributions were done in the district due to fuel shortages.
The district’s cumulative remains at 2 260,43mt, which is about 39,2 percent of its distribution target.
In Mutare District, trucks started loading on Monday, with grain distribution expected continue into the New Year.
Total grain distributed in the district is 1 237,95mt, which is about 30,8 percent of the target.
In Mutasa, no distribution was done due to grain shortage, meaning its cumulative remains at 783,42mt, which is about 26,5 percent of its total allocation.
In Nyanga, no distributions were also done due to grain shortages, and the district’s cumulative is at 700,06mt, which is about 36,9 percent — giving a provincial cumulative is at 7195,43mt (26,1 percent) of the provincial allocation up to December 2024.
“All the districts have exhausted their fuels (and) a request was sent to head office, but there is no fuel. Most of the transporters in the province are complaining of lack of fuel and salaries for their workers due to delayed payments. They are threatening to withdraw their vehicles if the situation does not change, and some have already withdrawn their services,” said Mr Tarondwa.
