Survey: Food Shortages Ravaging Matabeleland Region
Sithandekile Mhlanga
Gibbs Dube
Drought in Matabeleland
The findings also reveal that most people in the country do not have access to adequate electricity, medicine, clean water, and cash
WASHINGTON —
The Mass Public Opinion Institute has revealed that most people in the country have little access to adequate food with Matabeleland and the Midlands provinces being the hardest hit regions.
The research body said in a recent survey that 91 percent of respondents in Matabeleland North said they “sometimes" or "always” go without food, followed by 84 percent from Matabeleland South, and 83 percent from Midlands.
Few respondents in Mashonaland West and Manicaland provinces said they faced similar challenges. Harare had the least number of people who said they were facing serious food shortages.
Research manager Stephen Ndoma of the Mass Public Opinion Institute said the findings also revealed that most people in the country do not have access to adequate electricity, medicine, clean water, and cash.
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Interview with Stephen Ndoma
Effie Dlela-Ncube, political analyst and chairman of the National Association of Non-Governmental Organizations said the report is authentic as it reflects what is happening in the country.
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Interview with Effie Dlela-Ncube
Meanwhile, at least 13 struggling companies in Bulawayo have so far reportedly received between 135,000 and $1,000.000 under the state-sanctioned Distressed and Marginalized Areas Fund (DIMAF) launched in 2011 to rescue Zimbabwean firms failing to access cheap loans.
A list of beneficiaries obtained from the business sector indicates that Arenel Private Limited, Couresel Private Limited and Datlabs Private Limited each received $1,000.000 million to conduct various activities such as refinancing existing debts and purchasing of raw materials.
Executives of some benefiting firms declined to comment noting that it is too early to measure the impact of the loans obtained mostly a couple of weeks ago.
Ntombehle Moyo, chairperson of the Bulawayo chapter of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce, said the 40 million fund launched by government and Old Mutual Insurance is still shrouded in mystery.
