Staff Writer
The Zimbabwean government on Wednesday declared a national state of disaster to enable a rapid response to the prolonged drought, which threatens national food security.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the country will need US$2 billion in drought response.
Zimbabwe’s current 2023/24 agricultural season has not performed according to expectations due to the El Nino-induced drought. Due to the drought, more than 80 percent of the country received below-normal rainfall.
Mnangagwa said the country had put a total of 1,7 million hectares under maize crops and other cereals.
“The foregoing situation of the climate change-induced drought requires measures and interventions as provided for in our laws,” Mnangagwa said in an address at the State House.
The Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee Report for 2023 revealed that approximately 2,7 million people were expected to be food insecure from April 2023 until the end of March 2023.
“While we have been able so far to fend for this insecure population, the El Nino drought has now compounded our current situation, with food insecurity levels raised beyond the projected 2,7 million,” Mnangagwa said.
He added that the country expects 868 273 metric tonnes from this season’s harvest, facing a deficit of nearly 680 000 metric tonnes of grains.
The announcement follows similar declarations last month in neighboring Zambia and Malawi, where poor rainfall has cut production of maize and other grains and contributed to higher food prices that have hurt poor households.