MUTARE - Manicaland is in urgent need of food with half the population said to be facing starvation if nothing is done swiftly. (Pictured: A productive coffee farm before land invasions)
The Zimbabwe Food Research Organization (ZI FRO) director David Chiwandire said: The situation is very critical in most areas of the Manicaland province. Some families are going for days without food. This is a matter of urgency otherwise in the next few days some people will die of hunger.
Chiwandire said the Manicaland province was one of the provinces with the highest number of productive commercial farms which were invaded by Zanu (PF) officials.
Poor farming techniques and inadequate farming inputs resulted in the resettled farmers failing to produce enough food for the province, as compared to the previous years, when the province was Zimbabwes agricultural beacon, he said.
This year the resettled farmers had once again poor harvests.
But the Manicaland Provincial Governor Christopher Mushowe attributed the food shortages in Manicaland to drought.
The provinces harvest was greatly affected by the mid-season drought that resulted in the farmers failing to harvest.”
Farmers said they lacked the technical skills and agricultural inputs.
How can they expect us to grow enough maize for the people when they do not give us enough seed and fertilizer? asked a farmer. We can produce for the country if we are given enough implements. The problem is that this land reform programme has benefited a few top people.”
I think President Mugabe should be told that his close friends and comrades are making the land reform programme a major flop because they are taking everything leaving us with nothing. You can find a top official having numerous combined harvesters, tractors and excessive farming inputs while the majority of the farmers do not have anything.”
Plans are underway to ensure that the vulnerable families are fed. We will make sure that every family is fed in an apolitical manner, said Mushowe.
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