Over 13 million people across southern Africa, including Zimbabwe, are facing a severe food crisis due to a drought caused by the El Nino weather pattern. The drought has affected crops such as maize, pumpkins, and groundnuts, leading to fears of widespread hunger and exacerbating existing economic problems in Zimbabwe, where 42% of the population lives in extreme poverty. The government is urging conservation and increasing food imports, but this is challenging as the drought has affected other countries in the region. To provide a long-term solution, plans are underway to build water reservoirs in Rushinga and neighbouring regions, although progress has been slow due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Ladias Konje's maize field in northeastern Zimbabwe is normally green at this time of the year, but it is already parched yellow. The drought from the El Nino weather pattern has withered leaves, wilted cobs and raised the spectre of hunger for the 38-year-old and millions of others. "On a good year we would be relying on fresh maize, pumpkins and groundnuts but there is nothing at all in the fields this time," said the small-scale farmer. More than 13 million people across southern Africa can't put enough food on the table and the number is expected to surge in the coming months as the result of months of poor rains kick in, according to the United Nations. In Zimbabwe, officials are urging people to tighten their belts as authorities scramble to find alternative food supplies. "Families must not be wasteful. They must be conservative and prepare only food that is enough for the meal," said Leonard Munamati, who heads the Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services, a ...
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