By Lerato Ndlovu
Drought relief program set to disburse 705 metric tons of maize to about 15 thousand households in Mashonaland West’s Makonde district.
District’s Development Coordinator, Mr Benjamin Zivanai said the allocation was targeting to help vulnerable families in both rural and urban areas of the district.
“We received an allocation of 705 metric tons of maize from the government which is aimed at helping 14, 055 households in the whole district,”
“To date, we have disbursed 406 metric tons of maize to 8, 274 households in the rural areas throughout the district,” he said. “We also hope to cover households in urban areas as there are vulnerable people too.”
He went on to say that his office was prepared for any disasters associated with the rain season.
“We are working closely with the Civil Protection Unit so as to give a timely response to any people in need of assistance, to date, more than 18 tents have so far been supplied to 6 families that had their homes destroyed by a hailstorm in Ward 13 recently.”
He alluded that people in the rural areas are also expected to get food assistance under the Food for Work Programme where the District Development Fund (DDF) would inspect progress.
Zimbabwe is currently under the vice of a biting drought following poor rains experienced in the last agricultural season, the government has so far reduced the consumer price of mealie-meal by 50% following a previous huge increase from millers.
