Governor Maluleke appeals for money to avert starvation
By Energy Bara
Monday, 06 September 2010 14:53
MASVINGO – As hunger and starvation stalk some parts of the country, the
inclusive government is battling to resuscitate the food for work programme
amid reports that over USD 200 million is required to avert disaster.
Under the food for work programme, hungry people, mostly villagers , are
engaged to work on government development programmes in return for either
food or cash.
Masvingo Governor Titus Maluleke yesterday said that the government would
re-introduce the food for work programme but was battling to start the
project due to lack of money.
The failure by the government to raise money for the food for work programme
comes at a time when some humanitarian food aid agencies have indefinitely
suspended working following interference in their operations by politicians
mostly from Zanu PF.
“The government is battling to reintroduce this programme which, when
further delayed, might result in loss of lives due to hunger”, said
Maluleke.
“As funds to start the project are made available people will be engaged
to repair schools, bridges , clinics and other infrastructure which had been
neglected for years” added Maluleke.
“We are appealing to government to urgently look for funds for the project
because the situation in some areas of Masvingo is catastrophic”.
According to Governor Maluleke areas like Chiredzi , Mwenezi, Zaka , Gutu
and parts of Masvingo district are the hardest hit with some families
already surviving on either wild fruits or food hand outs from fellow
villagers.
“The situation is critical in some areas and some families are already
relying on fruits or food handouts from fellow villagers who have some food
to spare”, said Maluleke.
The government needs more than USD 200 million to avert starvation in the
country where most people failed to yield anything due to poor rainfall.
Government sources said that no money was budgeted for humanitarian aid
during the 2009 2010 announced by finance minister Tendai Biti.
“We are looking at over USD 200 million to make sure that we procure food
for the starving populations”, said the source.
Prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai has already toured different parts of the
country to assess the crop and food situation.
During his tour he described the situation in some of the affected areas as
catastrophic adding that government has to immediately come up with
resources to deal with the food situation.
“We have come up with a cabinet task force on food”, said Tsvangirai . “The
task force will have to come up with ways to avoid starvation”.
Some humanitarian food aid agencies have stopped operations due to political
interference.
In Gutu, two humanitarian aid agencies suspended operations after the
Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chairman threatened to take over the
distribution of food aid arguing that Non- Governmental Organisations were
biased towards other political parties.