Africa Moyo recently in CHIVI
Chivi Central House of Assembly member, Cde Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana, says over 100 000 people in Chivi district are battling serious food shortages after two consecutive poor cropping seasons.

Speaking on the sidelines of the official opening of an Agribank branch at Chivi Growth point last week, Cde Mangwana disclosed that the district’s leadership would soon lobby Government to offer food to villagers.
“There is a serious shortage of food in the whole of Chivi. We didn’t have good rains in 2010 and the 2011/12 summer cropping season resulting in widespread food shortages here,” said Cde Mangwana.

“We have been feeding 342 families per month in the district’s 32 wards,  but our assistance has been inadequate.
“Our assessment has shown that over 100 000 people need food aid.

“The situation has been compounded by the fact that Non-Governmental Organisations such as Care International that were feeding some of the families pulled out in March this year, leaving people at risk of starvation.

“We will soon be appealing to Government for the reintroduction of programs such as the grain loan scheme and food for work so that unscrupulous NGOs don’t use food as a tool to de-campaign Zanu-PF in the next elections,” he said.

Turning to the forthcoming elections Cde Mangwana expressed confidence that the revolutionary party would strengthen its stranglehold in the district.
“Chivi is Zanu-PF territory, we won all the three House of Assembly seats and the Senatorial seat on offer during the 2008 harmonised elections.
“There is no trace of MDC-T activity here as people support the revolutionary party’s empowerment policies,” he said.