President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe speaking at the 60th anniversary conference of the United Nations Food Programme., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00
Herald Reporter
President Mugabe is today expected to launch a food and nutrition security policy and implementation plan, yet another gesture exhibiting his commitment to ensure no one starves as a result of drought that ravaged some parts of the country.
Most parts of the country are in urgent need of food aid as the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces has also engaged the Zambian government to import 150 000 tonnes of maize from that country.
Vice-President Joice Mujuru, who is the chairperson of the National Taskforce on Food and Security, yesterday revealed that President Mugabe would launch the policy when she invited all Parliamentarians to grace the occasion.
VP Mujuru would present the policy document while Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made and his Health and Child Welfare counterpart, Dr Henry Madzorera, would give solidarity messages.
United Nations Development Programme resident co-ordinator Mr Alain Noudehou and Bankers’ Association of Zimbabwe president Mr George Guvamatanga, among other private sector players, are expected to speak in support of the policy. Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara would give a vote of thanks.
President Mugabe last week met Zambian Vice-President Mr Guy Scott at State House in Harare to finalise the government-to-government agreement for Zimbabwe to import 150 000 tonnes of maize from that country. The deal would be sealed between the two governments, despite spirited efforts by the likes of Finance Minister Tendai Biti to have maize from Zambia imported by private companies. Minister Biti’s route would have affected the poor as they would not afford to buy the grain from firms that would sell it at exorbitant prices.
Observers said the strategy by Minister Biti was to make people starve so that MDC-T could use hunger as a campaign tool in harmonised elections expected before June 29.
Mr Scott said Zambia was expected to start delivering the maize soon.
Minister Made said 150 000 tonnes of maize would see the country having enough grain when added to the harvests taking place in areas that were not affected by drought.
He said logistics were already in place to move the grain from Zambia with the co-operation of the northern neighbours, adding that the grain would be moved to “strictly priority areas” which did not harvest anything due to drought this season.
The areas include Matabeleland South, Masvingo, southern parts of Manicaland, southern parts of Midlands and some parts of Matabeleland North.
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