The Rhodesia Herald, January 12, 1966

THE drought which has struck vast regions of Rhodesia for the fourth, and in some areas the fifth successive year, causing the death of tens of thousands of cattle, is one of the greatest natural setbacks experienced by this country in living memory.

This was the writer’s conclusion after a week’s tour of the stricken areas.

Apart from the great loss in animal life, it has also destroyed a large proportion of the summer crops, notably maize, and is leaving in its wake the grim prospect of want and hunger in the African areas that have been affected.

The only part of the country that has been spared is the Mashonaland region, lying north of a line from Kariba through Hartley to the Eastern Highlands.

In this region, which embraces the main tobacco and maize producing districts, the crops, livestock and grazing generally are still in good to excellent condition.

In an average year, Rhodesia markets about 4m bags of maize, of which 3m bags are consumed internally and 1m exported.

The inescapable conclusion is that, unless the feeding of white maize to livestock is drastically curtailed between now and about May next year, there may not be enough to meet the country’s requirements for human consumption.

Many African farmers and a growing number of Europeans, have already abandoned their farms in the worst affected regions, such as the Victoria and Matabeleland provinces.

Many others are in financial difficulties.

But for the swift and effective action taken in the crisis by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as other Government departments, to evacuate as many cattle from the stricken areas as possible, and to bring relief where needed and ward off starvation where it threatens, the animal and material toll of the drought would have been infinitely greater.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

• The drought cycle repeats itself through what many now believe to be the effect of climate change. The hope is that it won’t be so prolonged as the 1960’s one.
• There is a mistaken belief that during colonial rule, challenges like drought, water and fuel shortages were unheard of. While some people believe that land reform is the source of Zimbabwe’s problems. Ian Smith’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence was declared in 1965 when the country was reeling under drought. He had to deal with drought, sanctions and the war of liberation, all of which drained the treasury, and Zimbabwe inherited a legacy debt.
• Yester-year stories are a good reminder for us to make hay while the sun shines, and that a stitch in time saves nine. Water and grazing pastures are abused when seasons are good.

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