By Evans Dakwa
As highly expected, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has finally declared the current El Nino induced drought a state of disaster, following in the footsteps of neighbours Zambia and Malawi who had already done the same.
“Dear Zimbabweans; the foregoing situation of the climate change induced drought requires measures and interventions as provided for in our laws. To that end, I do hereby declare a nationwide State of Disaster, due to the El Nino- induced drought, said President Mnangagwa.
The President’s declaration this morning, paves the way for concerted efforts, national resources to be channeled and re directed to mitigate the impact of the drought. It also sends a signal to multi lateral support organisations that Zimbabwe needs their urgent assistance.
“By this declaration, I also call upon Zimbabweans of goodwill, including those in the diaspora; international community, United Nations Agencies, Development and Humanitarian Partners, International Financial Institutions, the private sector , churches and other faith based organisations to generously donate towards ameliorating this State of National Disaster.”
.In his address to the nation, President Mnangagwa said the country anticipates a deficit of over half a million tonnes and efforts are already underway to mobilise towards plugging the gap.
“We expect 868 273 metric tonnes from this season’s harvest, hence our Nation faces a food cereal deficit of nearly 680 000 metric tonnes of grain. This deficit will be bridged by imports. Measures to encourage private sector participation are already in place. Top on our priority is securing food for all Zimbabweans. No Zimbabwean must succumb to, or die from hunger,” he said.
According to the President, preliminary assessments show the country requires in excess of US$2 billion towards various interventions envisaged in its national response
The President underscored the strategic importance of this year’s winter cropping season given the food insecurity the country faces.
” The winter crop programme for 2024 assumes added importance and urgency, the shift to wheat based food security food security means the land we put under the wheat from this month must expand to cover all available irrigable land with secure water sources”
He also said Government will focus on water security at household , community and national levels so that people and livestock will have adequate drinking water.
“Safe water sources which are drying up in many areas have to be replaced through an accelerated exploitation of our ground water.”