UN says 4 million Zimbabweans facing starvation.
By Tichaona Sibanda
6 June 2007

Two United Nations food agencies reported on Tuesday that poor harvest coupled with a worsening economic crisis would leave more than four million Zimbabweans in need of food assistance by early 2008.

Reports from Rome, Italy said the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Program estimate that over 2 million people in the southern provinces of the country will face serious food shortages in the next three months.

The number of people needing urgent food assistance is expected to increase to 4 million in the first three months of 2008. The Rome based agencies added that about 352,000 tons of cereals and 90,000 tons of other food aid will be needed to meet the basic needs of the endangered population.

Moses Mzila-Ndlovu, MDC MP for Bulilima in Matebeleland South said apart from the drought, political instability in the country has greatly contributed to the severity of the famine stalking Zimbabwe.

‘The government is making the situation worse by refusing to request for international food aid. We also know that food which is available now is being diverted to Zanu (PF) supporters and that villagers in Matebeleland provinces are being punished for not voting Zanu (PF),’ Mzila Ndlovu said.

The agencies said in a joint statement the worst affected provinces include Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Midlands, where families could run out of food as early as next month. Mzila-Ndlovu said villagers in his constituency were already surviving on tree leaves and wild fruit.

Amir Abdulla, WFP’s regional director for southern Africa said while drought has affected other countries, Zimbabwe’s poor harvest is being exacerbated by the country’s unprecedented economic decline, extremely high unemployment and the impact of HIV/AIDS.

‘The country’s hyperinflation and the plummeting of the Zimbabwe dollar have also drastically reduced the population’s buying power, limiting access to food supplies for low and middle incomes,’ said Abdulla.