Several families in Village 23 in Ward 16 under Bulilima District in Plumtree are suffering from hunger, with some just eating one meal a day due to food shortages caused by the long dry spell, according to the village head.
The dry spell has also taken its toll on livestock, which must be supplemented with feed made by locals themselves.
When a CITE news crew visited the ward, the village head, Winani Ncube, was seen with another villager sweeping for fallen leaves and shrub twigs to make feed for the livestock.
“We are now forced to collect leaves, twigs and branches from whatever tree to make livestock feed,” she said.
“We then mix everything and keep it for the livestock.”
In livestock management, thorn acacia provides valuable browse for livestock when other forage options are scarce.
Its leaves, pods, and twigs are nutritious and can supplement feed during dry periods.
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The village head said when the livestock are weakening, they take out their feed and serve to the cattle, having added salt and water.
“This year as you can see, there is nothing. The land is dry and barren,” Ncube said, describing this as one of the worst droughts she has witnessed
“I settled here in 1986 coming from Ndolwane. I then became the village head and I know the struggles that people are facing.”
The village head said people were starving, which was difficult to watch as a leader.
“It’s tough people are starving. We can even sell the feed to make some money or in exchange for food,” Ncube said, adding any assistance was welcome.
“We are now staying away from home, opting to work now and then eat in the evenings.”
Ncune said some villagers had received food assistance from the government and wellwishers but it was not enough.
“We started receiving food this month but others have not received it. We then have to share the food with those who were not given,” she said.
She added that keeping busy was also keeping their minds from hunger.
“As you can see we are busy gathering what we can, not choosing but collecting what we can from any tree to feed the cattle,” Ncube said.
The village head added that the livestock were drinking water at a nearby dam but the challenge is the water will soon dry up.
“There is no grass for the cattle to eat and the water will soon dry up. We don’t even know what we will do.” she said, noting that some cattle were now drinking water at another village, called Ngwenda.
