Villagers in Maphisa have raised concerns about perceived discrimination in the distribution of food aid following the El Niño-induced drought that ravaged crops during the 2024 planting season.
According to the United Nations, about 3.1 million Zimbabweans are in urgent need of food aid because of drought.
UN has since launched a US$429 million aid appeal to mobilise humanitarian action in support of livestock production, food assistance, cash transfers, and the construction of solarised boreholes and water pans.
Speaking on the sidelines of last week’s cultural month launch in Maphisa, Sipho Dube expressed dismay over what she believes are discriminatory practices in food aid distribution.
“Some people are included in food aid programs, but these programs seem biased,” Dube said. “In my village, Mbuso, there’s serious discrimination. I haven’t received any assistance, yet some people getting food aid don’t appear hungry or truly in need.”
Dube further claimed that traditional leaders are being excluded from communication about food distribution.
“We feel discriminated against,” she said. “Our livestock is dying, and we have no idea what will happen after winter.”
Another villager appealed to the government for help in addressing the food and water crises.
“This year, we received significantly less rain than usual. There were few rainy days, and our crops failed. We urge the government to provide food assistance and even drill boreholes to bring water closer to us, our livestock, and the dams. Many dams haven’t received enough rain, and some have already dried up,” he said.
Another villager echoed the same concerns, urging the government to replicate its response to the 1992 drought.
“We tried to farm, but the crops failed. Now, we rely on buying food, which is unsustainable for unemployed rural residents like us. Our village hasn’t received any government assistance,” he said. “We plead with the government to help us, just like they did during the 1992 drought. So far, there have only been promises, but no actual aid.”
However, Matobo District Development Coordinator Innocent Chaputsira stated that food distribution has begun in the district.
“We’ve already begun distributing food throughout the district, covering each ward. We’ve distributed grain to roughly six or seven wards since last week. We are feeding about 43 000 in the district,” Chaputsira said.
