Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
Matabeleland South Province is battling a food deficit of 60,991 tonnes with Beitbridge, Gwanda and Insiza South being the worst affected, Provincial Administrator, Midard Khumalo has said. In an interview, Khumalo said six of the province’s districts had food supplies that could last for the next six months.

“The food situation for the province is really bad because all seven districts failed to record a surplus in their harvest. Last year all districts had a surplus but this time around the province has a deficit of 60,991 metric tonnes,” he said.

Khumalo said there was an urgent need for food aid in the province.

He said the province was relieved that the government managed to secure a consignment of maize from Zambia as this would go a long way in alleviating the food shortage.

Khumalo said an exercise to document the number of food insecure households in the province was underway.

“Beitbridge, Gwanda and Insiza South areas are the worst affected. The other districts are also facing a crisis but their situation is better,” he said.

Khumalo urged communities to reduce their cattle numbers where necessary by first targeting livestock in poor shape.

He also urged farmers to begin providing their livestock with supplementary feed before it’s too late.

Chief Bango of Mangwe said villagers from his area were now buying food from shops.

He said some households started buying groceries from shops as early as January after failing to harvest anything.

Chief Bango said a few more villagers were still depending on last season’s harvest but would soon run out of food.

“Our donkeys and oxen are performing poorly in the fields or in other duties because of a shortage of grazing land and challenges in accessing water sources.

“People are faced with serious food challenges. Some of the villagers did not harvest anything because of poor rains and they are sleeping on empty stomachs. People had gone out in numbers to plough their fields but some have failed to even harvest melons.

“This time around the situation is really bad. By August the situation would have worsened as some rivers and dams might have dried up completely,” he said.

Chief Bango said villagers were pinning their hopes on government and non-governmental organisations’ intervention.

He said villagers were now selling some of their livestock in order to raise money to buy food.