Staff Writer
The government of Japan has donated 20 000 tonnes of maize to Zimbabwe, a move which is expected to further ensure the country`s food security.
Japan, which for long has been a friend of Zimbabwe extended the gesture to ensure that vulnerable households, who may struggle to get sufficient food stocks even in the face of a bumper harvest are covered.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima, yesterday, accepted the first tranche of the donation on behalf of the country.
“The Government, through the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social warfare would like to acknowledge receipt of 20 000 metric tonnes of grain from World Food Programme,” said Minister Mavima.
The donation was made factoring in other challenges which could have affected productivity in some areas.
“This came against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic which caused depletion of the source of livelihoods of our Populace, hence exacerbating their food insecurity.
Therefore there Government appreciates the efforts by our all-weather friend WFP and its cooperating partners in ensuring zero tolerance to hunger,” Minister Mavima said.
Covid-19 lockdown affected mostly informal traders who were forced to abruptly close their businesses as measures by the Government to contain the virus.
Some of those informal traders sustain the production of rural communities through urban to rural remittances.
Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Satoshi Tanaka urged the World Food Programme to reach the vulnerable households as soon as possible.
“The Government of Japan decided to provide this donation of maize given the severity of the current humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe.
I hope that, through WFP and Government of Zimbabwe’s Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy (FDMS), it will reach the most vulnerable households as soon as possible so that they can reach their basic needs,” said Mr Tanaka.
Japan and Zimbabwe enjoys a cordial relationship. In 2019 Japan has been supporting emergency efforts when Zimbabwe was hit by cyclone Idai.
A similar donation of 30,000 metric tonnes of maize was delivered by the Government of Japan and World Food Programme (WFP) to the Government of Zimbabwe in June 2020.
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