Drought, hunger stalks Mat South

September 15, 2015 in National, News

SAMUEL Ncube says his heart sinks each time he sells either a goat or cow but he is forced by circumstances.

BY NQOBANI NDLOVU

A combination of hunger, drought, water scarcity and the shortage of grazing land for livestock is making life difficult for him and other villagers, forcing them to sell off their beasts.

Like many villagers, the 80-year-old village head at Sizabani village, in ward 14 of Gwanda South, Matabeleland South province, does not like to selling his cows.

Cattle are status symbols, a source of pride in rural areas and one’s standing and respect in society is regarded by the size of their kraal.

Many prefer to see their herds multiply rather than sell them for cash, a situation that has seen some lose everything when drought strikes and the cattle die.

“I am not taking that risk (of losing his cows due to drought). I have no option, but to sell my goats and cows to be able to buy mealie-meal as we did not harvest anything. It’s a painful experience (selling),” Ncube said during a visit to the area.

Villagers are selling their beasts for as low as $300, the village head said. Beasts normally fetch between $600 and $800 in normal circumstances.

Government has urged villagers to destock to avoid losses due to deaths, but destocking is a painful exercise for many.

Already, eight cattle deaths have been reported in Gwanda district as a result of drought, amid estimates that more than
350 000 animals were at risk if no interventions were made.

In 2012, the province lost more than 9 000 cattle to drought.

While cattle are at risk of death owing to lack of pastures, villagers also face grinding starvation due to poor harvests.
The situation has been worsened by the fact that non-governmental organisations (NGOs), who over the years dished out food handouts, are conspicuous by their absence this time around.

“It is so sad and terrible. We have not seen any NGOs as in previous years and we are now selling our cattle at giveaway prices just to be able to buy food,” Ncube adds.

Gloria Sibanda, secretary to Chief Nhlamba in ward 14, said villagers were making a beeline to the traditional leader to complain of hunger.

The chief does not have Isiphala Senkosi — a granary meant to provide food assistance to subjects during times of drought.
“Villagers flock here everyday seeking food assistance. Not all villagers have livestock, some are orphans, while other are too old and have no-one to buy food for them.

“If only government had assisted with Isiphala Senkosi, maybe the situation will be a lot better, but as it is, many face starvation if no urgent measures are taken,” Siziba said.

Some children are being admitted to clinics facing malnutrition related illnesses due to hunger. No ready statistics could be obtained from health personnel.

Under its economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZimAsset), government says food security would be a major priority for the Zanu PF administration, and President Robert Mugabe has said no-one will starve to death, but in Matabeleland South, they are yet to see the promised food aid.

Zanu PF Matabeleland South provincial secretary, William Dhewa, refused to comment on what the party is doing to assist starving villagers. He referred this paper to Abednigo Ncube, the Minister of Rural Development and Preservation of Natural and Cultural Heritage, saying he was seized with the matter when he was the Provincial Affairs minister.

Ncube’s mobile phone rang unanswered the whole of last week.

Agriculture minister Joseph Made has said Zimbabwe would import 700 000 tonnes of maize to avert hunger related deaths following poor harvests.

The government has said it will also issue maize import licences to companies in a bid to avert famine. According to the 2015 crop assessment report released by government, the country’s maize harvest dropped by 49% compared to last year, leaving a huge gap that needs to be filled by imports.

In June, Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa appealed to development partners for some $300 million to avert starvation.

“Approximately $300 million is required to import food to cover the deficit and see us through to the next harvest, hoping that it will be significantly better than the current one.

“I am, therefore, calling upon all our partners, from development agencies and the private sector, to assist us in providing the necessary resources to ensure that none of the communities nationwide is exposed to hunger and starvation,” Mnangagwa said during the launch of the Zimbabwe Zero Hunger Strategic Review Report.

However, according to Thulani Moyo, of Bethel in Gwanda South and the Sizabani village, this years’ hunger is the worst compared to the previous years, with the latter comparing it to that of 1947.

“There was (in 1947) nothing as is the case now. There was no help whatsoever just like now. It is the duty of the government to help us with food handouts and stock-feed,” Ncube said.