The ManicaPost
Post Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has today declared the 2023/24 summer cropping season, which was adversely affected by the El Nino-induced drought and threatened food security in the country, a state of disaster.
The 2023/24 agricultural season has not performed according to expectations due to the El Nino-induced drought which decimated crops before reaching maturity.
In an address at State House this morning, the President said Government has put in place measures to mitigate the negative impacts of the drought and secure food security so that citizens do not die from hunger.
“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. Accordingly, I now invoke Section 27, Subsection 1 of the Civil Protection Act ( Chapter10:6), which provides that: “if any time it appears to the President that any disaster of such a nature and extent that extra ordinary measures are necessary to assist and protect the persons affected or likely to be affected by the disaster in any area of the country, the Presidency may, in such a manner as he considers fit, declare that, with effect from a date specified by him , a state of disaster exists within an area or areas specified by him in the declaration,” said President Mnangagwa.
He added: “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.”
