In Hunger Struck Mat’ North, Food Hand-Outs Are a Temporary Reprieve

Malnutrition and starvation in Hwange west has driven people to digging up baobab tree roots for eating. Image by Joel S. | Flickr

by Nokuthaba Dlamini

The ongoing global pandemic in the form of COVID-19 has exacerbated an already raging food crisis. Food aid from the government and the non-profit sector is enabling some sort of livelihood but, is it enough?

VICTORIA FALLS, September 17, 2020. (The Citizen Bulletin) — Senelisiwe Ndlovu and her family from Nemanhanga ward in the outskirts of Victoria Falls have resorted to eating baobab tree roots.

The single parent of two says she has slept without food for several days.

"I dig and grind them with my hands as they are still fresh and wet to make porridge. I went to register my name in the social welfare department offices in Victoria Falls and l hope that l will be considered very soon, otherwise waiting for the next season harvest might be tougher."

Cases of malnutrition and starvation are on rise in Hwange west constituency, amid calls for government and nongovernmental interventions until the next harvest season.

According to the constituency Member of Parliament Godfrey Dube, women and children are the most affected, the situation has been worsened by the coronavirus pandemic.

He says with international donors like World Vision pulling out from rendering humanitarian assistance, the two groups and some men have had to spend several days without food.

“This is not only affecting the rural people alone. The situation is dire and needs urgent intervention.”
Godfrey Dube, MP for Hwange west constituency

“I have been to rural areas in the Kachechete, Chikandakubi, Ndlovu, Monde, Chidobe and Nemanhanga wards and the reports l get from these people are very sorry (sic). Children are the most affected and many nongovernmental organizations have pulled out leaving many of them desperate and helpless.”

Elitha Mudenda (71) used to survive on food handouts from her neighbours in Chinotimba in the resort town of Victoria Falls.

Mudenda says the Covid-19 pandemic has worsened her plight as she is unable to fend for herself and her ailing husband. The couple survives on a single meal per day, at times they do not eat anything.  

“They can't feed you every day, and life has become more difficult for us,” she says.

Her husband is 83 years old and has spine problems.

“We are both unemployed and have no children to look after us. We have been living here (Esikhwahleni) sharks and with tourism people unemployed, we have been left more disadvantaged.”

Elitha Mudenda

The closure of the tourism industry in the resort town left about 80 percent of workers jobless.

The government is seeking help from international donors as it battles to ease the hunger, which has been a result of poor rainfall and economic collapse. In June UNICEF said more than 5.5 million people; a third of the country’s population will need food assistance by 2020.
 
Matabeleland North Province Social Development Officer Macnon Chirinzepi says the government is working hard to fend for citizens both in rural and urban settings regardless of the harsh economic conditions.

A total of 1 401 people have benefitted from mobile money transfers in seven districts.
 
“We are expecting a new batch of cash transfer sim cards for other beneficiaries who have been registered and forwarded to head office.”

Chirinzepi, however, says the money is still not enough to cater for all the vulnerable groups in seven districts.

“We have 87 000 people in dire need of humanitarian assistance in our register and we aim to assist all of them and because this pandemic (coronavirus) plenty more will be affected,” Chirinzepi says.

Non-governmental organisations are reportedly also assisting with distribution of money and food to about 25 000 people.

In Victoria Falls, a steering team comprising pastors from various churches and some individuals from the COVID-19 taskforce are overseeing the community feeding programme initiated to feed 8 000 children facing starvation in the resort town. They are targeting pupils up to Advanced Level.

Seven feeding points have been opened at Apostolic Faith Mission Church, Salvation Army, Christian Centre, Family of God, Seventh Day Adventist, United Methodist Church and Trust in God Pre-School.

The feeding centres are in both Mkhosana and Chinotimba high density suburbs. Kids are served either isitshwala or rice with soya mince, beans and coleslaw. To prevent crowding, beneficiaries collect food in their own containers and eat off site.

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