Mako Jerera
The Lean Season Assistance (LSA) Program has resumed in Matobo District, bringing expanded drought relief to residents impacted by the recent dry spells.
Following the previous distributions that reached around 42,000 to 43,000 people, the government has announced a significant increase in support.
The upcoming relief efforts are set to cover 84,900 individuals, marking a near-total coverage of the district’s 90,000 residents. This expansion will ensure that nearly every ward in the district receives aid, with the exception of three wards deemed currently capable of managing without additional assistance.
The relief efforts are a combined undertaking by the government and several Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs), including Caritas and Hope for a Child in Christ (HOCIC) Zimbabwe.
Caritas, initially planning a cash program, has converted its support to an inputs-based system in alignment with the Drought Relief Committee’s decision. HOCIC, meanwhile, is adjusting its food aid plan to reach more individuals in the wards hardest hit by food insecurity.
Originally planning to supply eight wards with a package of 10kg of mealie-meal, 1.5kg of sugar beans, and 750ml of cooking oil per individual, HOCIC will now prioritize the most affected wards, with the final number to be determined.
Under the coordination of the Department of Social Development (DSD), the government has allocated significant resources, including 10 tonnes of cowpeas, 6 tonnes of groundnuts, 23 tonnes of sunflower, 307 tonnes of Compound D fertilizer, and 125.9 tonnes of top dressing fertilizer for communal farmers.
The Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) will oversee the distribution of these agricultural inputs to boost food production in the upcoming season.
In addition to drought relief, the government has ramped up its school feeding program across all 84 primary schools in Matobo District, ensuring that students receive at least one hot meal daily.
This program, supported by grain supplied through the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), aims to alleviate hunger among school-aged children. CAMFED, a private organization, has also implemented a three-month school feeding initiative in 27 secondary schools. Excluding boarding schools, the program allocates USD400 each to 20 schools and USD600 each to seven schools to account for the purchase of necessary utensils.
With more registrations slated for this month, Matobo District’s drought relief initiative exemplifies the collaboration between government agencies and PVOs, working to provide essential resources to those most affected by Zimbabwe’s lean season.
The comprehensive coverage promised by this effort offers a critical lifeline to thousands in the district and reflects a concerted response to regional food security challenges.
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