The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
Japan, in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), on Thursday handed over a variety of climate resilience assets to assist about 11 000 food insecure people in Mount Darwin and Matobo districts.
The assets, which include community nutrition gardens, feeder roads, keyhole gardens and solar water pumps were either built or rehabilitated through WFP’s Food Assistance for Assets Programme (FFA) under a US$1,2 million kitty provided by Japan.
Speaking at the handover ceremony today in Kanyoka Village, Mt Darwin, Japan’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Satoshi Tanaka, said it was important to equip rural communities with resilience programmes to empower them to fight climate change.
“Climate change is serious and unfortunately is here to stay, as shown by the successive drought years you have experienced in the last decade,” he said.
“That’s why it is essential for communities like yours to become even more resilient. The new assets you have created will help you do this.”
Speaking at the same event, WFP deputy country director, Ms Christine Mendes, said the WFP is working closely with partners to address vulnerabilities among rural communities.
“Japan has generously contributed US$5,8 million to the FFA programme since 2017,” she said.
“Together, we have been able to reach up to 12 800 households, approximately 64 000 people across the six districts of Chiredzi, Hwange, Mudzi, Rushinga, Matobo and Mount Darwin. This has helped to address both short and longer-term food insecurity among people impacted by consecutive years of drought and shocks like Covid-19.”
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Mashonaland Central Province Monica Mavhunga said:
“Food security is one of the main priorities of National Development Strategy One, and the contribution from the Government of Japan through WFP will assist in reaching this goal and making sure no one is left behind.”
