Zimbabwe's worsening hunger crisis has been
exacerbated by the worst economic downturn the
country has seen in decades and now, COVID-19. The
pandemic, along with government lockdown
measures have had a large impact on informal
workers, who constitute at least 90% of the
population. Their livelihoods have been lost due to
the slowing demand for their services and products as
mobility into town continues to be restricted; affecting
the flow of customers.
The 2020 rural Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment
(ZimVac) assessment indicates that households saw an
average 51.5% reduction in income compared to 2019
due to COVID-19. The abrupt announcement of the
initial lockdown in March 2020 gave informal workers
little time to organise their savings or stock up on
goods. Despite the government’s promise to avail an
informal sector cushion fund to help vendors survive
during the lockdown, no financial assistance has been
provided. While many recognise the threat posed by
COVID 19, they would rather risk contracting the virus
than sit idle at home and starve to death. Many
families have been forced to reduce the quantity of
their food portions as well as their food intake to two
meals a day in order to save the little they have.
Acute malnutrition cases have also been on the rise in
the country as food shortages deepen. According to
ZimVac, the percentage of children receiving the
minimum acceptable diet necessary for growth and
development decreased from 6.9% in 2019 to 2.1% in
2020. In 2021, the percentage is projected to decline.
“
The 2020 rural
Zimbabwe
Vulnerability
Assessment (ZimVac)
assessment indicates
that households saw
an average 51.5%
reduction in income
compared to 2019 due
to COVID-19
“
The right to food is enshrined in Article 77 of the
Constitution; however, Government has failed to
ensure that the hunger crisis is addressed urgently
and accordingly. Various food relief initiatives to local
have failed to solve the hunger problem and
government-issued grants and food aid interventions
have been largely ineffective. Government aid
processes, particularly the Pfumvudza agricultural
support scheme, have created a hub for corruption,
politicisation and exclusionary distribution practices.
The government’s approach to addressing the hunger
crisis has been limited as it neglects the need for a
long-term solution and instead opts to rely on shortterm solutions such as food relief schemes- which
have proven unsustainable.
In light of this, ZPP calls for a genuine intervention in addressing economic challenges
plaguing the country which have led to the worsening hunger crisis.
ZPP also urges the government to remember the obligation to ensure that the right to
adequate food is protected and guaranteed. In addition, relevant authorities are expected to
account for the continuous partisan distribution of aid and make certain that all vulnerable
citizens are provided with the aid and without bias.
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