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Transcript/ScriptZIMBABWE FOOD INSECURITY (TVR)
HEADLINE: World Food Program: Zimbabwe's Food Insecurity Is Worsening
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: 03/21/2023, 7:06p
BYLINE: Columbus Mavhunga
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Mangwe, Zimbabwe
VIDEOGRAPHER: Columbus Mavhunga
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Penny Dixon
VIDEO EDITOR:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE: VOA Original,
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 3:04
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES: Please send script/questions to: columbuszim@gmail.com))
((INTRO:)) The World Food Program (WFP) says Zimbabwe is at the peak of its lean season with 2.7 million people across the country facing food insecurity even before effects of an ongoing drought kick in. Columbus Mavhunga reports from Mangwe, one of the most affected districts.
((NARRATOR))
In southwestern Zimbabwe, crops in the Mangwe area have withered away. Even local farmers will be among Zimbabweans who need aid until next year.
That includes 42-year-old Singazi Sibanda, a mother of three children.
((For radio: Sibanda says all my crops were burnt by sun and died at early stages. I don’t know how we will get to next year and where we will be.”
((Singazi Sibanda, Food Insecure Zimbabwean)) ((Ndebele 15 seconds)) “All my crops were burned by the sun. I don’t know how we will get to next year and where we will be. The crops died at early stages.”
((NARRATOR))
Mangwe is one of the districts in Zimbabwe most affected by drought.
Local officials say some people may have to go work in nearby Botswana or in urban areas to survive.
[[FOR RADIO: Joseph Nleya oversees Mangwe’s village of Mabade for the Ministry of Local Government.]]
((Joseph Nleya, Local Government Ministry for Mabade Village)) ((Shona 17 seconds))
“Boreholes have no water, dams are drying up, there is no grazing grass for animals. Maybe some hay will be brought from other areas to feed the local animals.”
((NARRATOR))
Food is being distributed in hard hit areas. Evelyn Ndlovu is the minister of Matabeleland South, also in the Mangwe area. She says the government is in touch with international aid agencies to get more help.
Officials say the crisis is growing worse in the region due to recurring droughts caused by the El Nino weather pattern.
[[FOR RADIO: Francesca Erdelmann is the World Food Program’s Zimbabwe Director.]]
((Francesca Erdelmann, World Food Program)) ((Eng. 17 sec))
“The crop situation in Zimbabwe is very poor at the moment. We expect the number of people who will not have adequate stock from their own production to last them until the next harvest -- that which would be then by the middle of next year – that that number of people who will not be able to meet their food needs over that full period will go up.”
((NARRATOR))
Zimbabwe’s government says the 2024 grain harvest will yield about 868,000 tons of grain, an alarming 62 percent drop from last year’s total and far below the target that officials had set for this year.
Aid groups say they’re stepping up efforts to help.
[[FOR RADIO: Janean Davis, head of the U.S. Agency for International Development in Zimbabwe, says USAID is providing funds to WFP to help people get through the lean season.]]
((Janean Davis, USAID Zimbabwe Director)) ((Eng))
“We're focusing on this January to March period, which we have identified as the peak of the lean season. It's the most critical period. It is also important for us to provide additional opportunities so that even throughout the year, people have options and means to support their families and households.”
((NARRATOR))
A message that brings some hope to people like Sibanda.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s information minister says the country is working to ease food insecurity by waiving taxes on the importation of rice, maize, potato seed, cooking oil and genetically modified maize for stock feed, in a bid to lower prices for average Zimbabweans.
((Columbus Mavhunga, VOA News, Mangwe, Zimbabwe))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateMarch 21, 2024 19:48 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
