CHIEFS in Masvingo Province will today meet Provincial Affairs minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti to discuss a number of issues including worsening food shortages. Tatenda Chitagu Own Correspondent
Chiefs’ Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira said all the 40 chiefs in Masvingo would meet Bhasikiti to brief him on a number of issues, which he refused to disclose, but hinted hunger was on the agenda.
“We cannot rule out food shortages as you know people had a bad harvest due to erratic rains,” he said.
“There are a number of issues which we will raise, but I cannot tell you now. You will hear of the issues at the meeting.”
The meeting comes amid reports that several school-going children had dropped out of school to do menial jobs in order to raise money to buy food.
Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association president Richard Gundane confirmed to our sister paper, The Standard, that children were dropping out of school because of hunger.
“There is evidence that pupils drop out of school and among many other reasons the issue of hunger is very pertinent,” he said.
“In most rural areas a child might decide not to go to school because they are hungry or their parents drag them off to the field in a bid to secure food.”
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Gundane urged non-governmental organisations such as Unicef to chip in.
During the launch of the National Food and Nutrition Security Policy early this year, President Robert Mugabe expressed concern at figures that showed one in every three children was chronically malnourished in the country.
Mugabe said 25% of all deaths of children under the age of five were due to nutritional deficiencies.
Masvingo is among the worst hit provinces as it is susceptible to hunger despite several large water reservoirs which could be harnessed for irrigation.
