A LUPANE chief has appealed to well-wishers and other stakeholders for transport to ferry food aid from the district Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to feed his hungry subjects reeling from the effects of the El Niño-induced drought.
Government has begun distributing food aid to areas severely affected by the El Nino-induced drought.
Chief Menyezwa told Southern Eye that their grain allocation has been delivered at Lupane GMB, but there is no transport to ferry it to Dongamuzi area.
“Our grain allocation has been made available at Lupane GMB, but the challenge is that we do not have transport to take it to our ward,” Menyezwa said.
“We are appealing to those who can assist us with transport.
“The food aid is given to the most vulnerable groups including those who are above 70 years.”
He said they were instructed that beneficiaries should not pay for the transportation of the grain.
Each beneficiary will get 7,5 kilogrammes of grain until next year.
Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs minister Richard Moyo said each chief in the province received five tonnes of grain.
“The chief’s committee is the one responsible for the distribution. It is a separate programme from social welfare,’’ Moyo said.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development minister Anxious Masuka confirmed that the movement of grain to hunger-hit areas has started.
“The movement is in two parts. It is movement from surplus areas; GMB to GMB and then from the GMB to the mid rural areas,” he said.
According to reports, the Household-based Village-co-ordinated Rapid Vulnerability Assessment and the Urban Food and Nutrition Council assessment indicated that close to 60% of the population is in dire need of food aid.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the drought a national disaster, and appealed for US$3 billion to cater for food aid.
The United Nations early this month issued a flash appeal for US$429,3 million humanitarian assistance targeting close to 3,1 million people facing drought.
