President declares drought season national disaste...

President declares drought season national disaster

Oscar J Jeke

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared the 2023/2024 cropping season a national disaster owing to a crippling El Niño-induced drought, that has seen a low expected harvest output of 868 273 metric tonnes, showing a deficit of over 600 000 metric tonnes.

The declaration came during the president’s National address today, where he asserted that the grain and cereal deficit gap requires over US$2 billion to alleviate the food insecurity index facing the country.

The deficit will also affect more than 2.7 million Zimbabweans, which the President assured that it would be covered through imports, while encouraging private players to bridge the gap, with measures to involve their increased participation already in place.

“Dear Zimbabweans; the foregoing situation of the climate change induced drought requires measures and interventions as provided for in our laws. To that end, I do hereby declare a nationwide State of Disaster, due to the El Nino-induced drought,” President Mnangagwa said.

The president also assured the nation that the government seeks to provide for every Zimbabwean, prioritising food security so that all are proofed from hunger, while extending a call for humanitarian aid from international organisations

“We expect 868 273 metric tonnes from this season’s harvest, hence our Nation faces a food cereal deficit of nearly 680 000 metric tonnes of grain. This deficit will be bridged by imports.

“Measures to encourage private sector participation are already in place. Top on our priority is securing food for all Zimbabweans. No Zimbabwean must succumb to, or die from hunger,” President Mnangagwa said.