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Transcript/Script(( PLAYBOOK SLUG: COVID Food Insecurity (TV)
HEAD: Zimbabwe's Food Insecurity Escalates During COVID-19 Lockdowns
TEASER:
TWEET:
DATE: 04/012021 at 430p
BYLINE: Columbus Mavhunga
VIDEOGRAPHER: Blessing Chigwenhembe
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, Bowman
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Skype
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV __X RADIO __ X
TRT: :39
VID APPROVED BY: Sue Jepsen
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO)) The coronavirus pandemic has increased hunger and food insecurity in Zimbabwe, which was already struggling with a poor economy before the pandemic began, according to a government report released this week. The World Food Program says the problem is especially acute for unemployed urban dwellers. Columbus Mavhunga reports from Harare.
((VIDEO-VOA: Murambiwa inspects his forage, Murambiwa treating the mushrooms))
((NARRATOR))
The government report, called Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment, says about 2.4 million locals in the countryâs urban areas are struggling to meet their basic food needs because of lockdowns to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Murambiwa Simon Mushongorokwa used to get casual factory jobs before the pandemic hit Zimbabwe.
((Murambiwa Simon Mushongorokwa, Former Zimbabwean Casual Worker (Shona, 14 secs))
âI used to get about $30 a week. It was not enough for my needs. But when the lockdown came, it got worse, until I started growing mushroom.â
((VIDEO-VOA: Murambiwaâs wife preparing the corn))
((NARRATOR))
He uses forage from his backyard corn and sorghum field to grow the mushrooms. He says he now gets about $5 a week from selling it and uses some for consumption with his wife and five dependents.
Simon Julius Kufakwevanhu, an official from a local NGO, has been teaching people in this poor suburb to grow mushrooms.
((Simon Julius Kufakwevanhu ((English, 18 secs))
âBefore the introduction of mushroom farming in this place, it was very tough for people in this community to survive because of the lockdowns and so forth. But when The Future of Hope brought in mushroom growing, itâs changing because you can now buy something, able to go to shops and buy mealie meal, sugar and so forth.â
((VIDEO: Vendors selling wares, people selling food stuffs from the back of their cars))
((NARRATOR))
The World Food Program says it is looking for more ideas and resources to help 550,000 people like Mushongorokwa in urban areas get basic food for survival.
((Tomson Phiri, World Food Program (English, 21 secs))
((Mandatory cg: SKYPE))
âCOVID-19 has not only wiped out lives, it has wiped out livelihoods as well. The number of people who are unable to put food on their table in Zimbabweâs urban areas has increased from 30 percent during the same period in 2019 to 42 percent right now.â
((VIDEO-VOA: Murambiwa and wife in the sorghum fields))
((NARRATOR))
Zimbabwe government says it is giving about $12 a month to families affected by lockdowns. Thatâs nowhere near the $500 an average family of five to seven people needs to survive each month.
People like Mushongorokwa hope that with the lockdowns recently eased, jobs and livelihoods will come back.
In the meantime, the WFP is seeking $32 million to feed food-insecure urbanites.
((Columbus Mavhunga, for VOA News, Harare, Zimbabwe))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Expiration DateApril 10, 2021 07:43 EDT
Embargo DateApril 9, 2021 11:55 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
