HARARE: Residents of Buhera, a village in Zimbabwe, gathered in clusters at a primary school, patiently awaiting their turn to receive vital supplies of grain, peas, and cooking oil.
Expressing gratitude, Mushaikwa, a 71-year-old resident living with her elderly husband, remarked, “We are grateful, but this food will only last us a month. My crops have withered away.”
Since 2000, Zimbabwe has struggled to produce enough food for its population following the land redistribution policies initiated by former President Robert Mugabe, which disrupted agricultural productivity and led to significant output declines. Consequently, many Zimbabweans rely on food aid to survive.
The situation has worsened due to an El Nino-induced drought affecting several Southern African countries. The government estimates that 2.7 million people will face food shortages this year, with the actual number possibly being higher.
There is contemplation within the government about declaring a state of emergency, a government minister told Reuters.
El Nino is a natural weather phenomenon characterized by disrupted wind patterns, resulting in warmer ocean temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific regions. It returns every two to seven years, lasting around nine to twelve months, and can trigger extreme weather events like tropical cyclones, prolonged droughts, and subsequent wildfires.
Christine Mendes, the acting country director for the World Food Programme (WFP), highlighted the dire situation in Buhera, approximately 220 km (140 miles) southeast of Harare, noting widespread crop failures.
Zimbabwe’s maize harvest is projected to decrease by half, reaching only 1.1 million tons this year.
WFP has assisted 270,000 individuals in four drought-prone districts from January to March but requires additional funding to support more affected communities, Mendes emphasized.
Mary Takawira, 47, surveyed her failed crop in Buhera, lamenting, “I can barely recall the taste of corn anymore. This year will be incredibly challenging.
