Highlights: Zimbabwe declares a state of national disaster over drought and its food consequences. The southern African country is in the grip of a severe drought linked to the El Niño climatic phenomenon. 2.7 million people are expected to lack food this year due to poor rains. And cereal harvests should only feed barely more than half of the population, President Emmerson Mnangagwa warned. The state of disaster will allow the government to release exceptional funds to buy cereals from neighboring countries.

The President of Zimbabwe declared a state of national disaster on April 3, 2024. This southern African country is in the grip of a severe drought linked to the El Niño climatic phenomenon, which has brought back…

Zimbabwe declares a state of national disaster over drought and its food consequences

A villager shows wilted corn crops in Mumijo in Buhera district, east of the capital Harare, Zimbabwe March 16, 2024. REUTERS - Philimon Bulawayo

By: RFI Follow

Zimbabwe is the third country in southern

Africa

to implement this system, after Malawi and Zambia, which will allow it to release exceptional funds to deal with the crisis.

No Zimbabwean should succumb to hunger, President

Emmerson Mnangagwa

said on Wednesday evening .

According to him, 2.7 million people are expected to lack food this year due to poor rains. And cereal harvests should only feed barely more than half of the population, he warned.

The state of national disaster will allow the government to release exceptional funds to buy cereals from neighboring countries. But this year, traditional suppliers, Zambia and Malawi, also risk experiencing poor harvests and therefore being unable to help their neighbors.

Read alsoLighting – Drought causes power cuts in Zambia

Parts of Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe have received only 80% of rainfall in recent months, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). .

According to an agricultural expert, South Africa – whose maize production is the largest in the region – only has a limited surplus to export to its neighbors. We will therefore have to look elsewhere.

But importing corn also means an increase in food prices, warns the same expert.

Zimbabwe was once the region's breadbasket, exporting wheat, corn and tobacco. Today, the Zimbabwean government is encouraging farmers to shift crops to more resistant cereals, such as sorghum.

Zimbabwe declares a state of national disaster over drought and its food consequences

Zimbabwe declares a state of national disaster over drought and its food consequences

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest