Food shortages bite

Since independence, the Southern African country has always been a net exporter of food, but now aid agencies say the situation is desperate. No deaths from starvation have been officially reported but relief agencies say the situation will worsen if food aid is not sent quickly.

In some areas, thousands have resorted to eating tree roots simply to stay alive, but even the roots are now in scarce supply. Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier De Schutter, said there is "just not enough food" in Zimbabwe which was once the bread basket of Africa.

"An estimated 1.5 million people may need food assistance," he said. The official population of Zimbabwe is about 12 million people but experts say many of those have fled the country and the true figure is 11 million or less.

Estimates by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) say Zimbabwe will need to import a total of about 170,000 metric tonnes of maize and wheat to avert starvation and replenish its reserves.

The United Nations resident representative said Zimbabwe urgently requires some US$488 million to avert a humanitarian disaster. UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Zimbabwe, Allain Noudehou, said the 2011 Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) was running into problems because of crisis in other regions.

“We are all aware that globally, we are competing for resources with dire humanitarian situations like the drought in the Horn of Africa and the crisis in the middle east/north Africa," Noudehou said.

"Nevertheless the resources indicated earlier are still very much needed in Zimbabwe. We therefore appeal for the continuous support of the donor community to address these needs that are certainly articulated in Zimbabwe CAP 2011.”

So far, some 2,5 million have registered with the government for emergency food aid. An aid worker working in the worst affected areas told The Zimbabwean they have had to introduce a feeding scheme for children.

Another aid agency, Care International, reported that in the southern Provinces of Midlands and Masvingo, 100,000 children are already taking a supplementary meal a day.

For some of these children, school is the one place they are assured of a square meal each day and worth the long distance they have to walk.

Last month Zimbabwean Agriculture Minister Joseph Made admitted the country was going to import 100 000 tons of maize immediately from neighbouring South Africa to avert the looming food shortages. But for a long time, Zimbabwe denied that the country could face food shortages and the government has promised that no-one will starve.

However, the opposition has already warned the government not to use food aid to try to get votes in next year's presidential elections.