The Department of Social Development in Bulawayo has commenced the enumeration process for the cash-for-cereal program in urban areas, aimed at assisting families affected by El Niño-induced shocks. The program is being rolled out across wards 7 to 29.
In June, the Treasury announced a monthly disbursement of Z$190 million over the next nine months to support cash transfers to food-insecure households across the country. The El Niño-induced drought has had significant effects on agriculture, water availability, and overall economic stability.
A recent report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlighted that food insecurity levels in Zimbabwe are rapidly deteriorating.
In a letter dated yesterday, addressed to stakeholders, Bulawayo Provincial Social Development Officer Energy Mlambo stated that enumerators have been recruited to register urban households and determine the number of people in need of food assistance.
According to the 2024 Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment, at least 1.7 million people in urban areas need food aid, while another six million in rural areas have been left vulnerable to hunger due to the El Niño-induced drought.
“Following the El Niño-induced drought, which resulted in below-normal rainfall, many people have become food insecure. The results of the Urban Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment confirmed this, indicating that about 35 percent of the urban population will be food insecure. Consequently, the government aims to provide cash transfers to 1.7 million people in urban areas,” Mlambo said.
“To facilitate this, enumerators have been recruited to undertake registration in all urban households to ascertain the number of people who will require food assistance,” she added.
Mlambo also noted that the Ward Child Care Workers (CCWs) for ward 7 to 29, under the Ministry of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare, along with the enumerators, will conduct the registration exercise from August 10 to September 2024.
“Please cooperate with them during this exercise, noting that being registered does not automatically guarantee participation in the program,” Mlambo advised.
