In the community

Maize aid for every home

Published

10 months ago

July 25, 2024

BY STAFF REPORTER

As the hunger crisis deepen, Members of Parliament are calling for an urgent overhaul of the maize distribution system, advocating for every household to receive a fair share of the limited maize available.

They argued that the current system, which prioritizes the most needy households, is inadequate in addressing the scale of the crisis.

“I strongly believe that maize allocation should be given to every household.” said MP for Chikanga Lynette Karenyi.

“It shows that in rural as well as in urban areas, people are starving. So, it means that when one person goes with six bags, others get nothing.

“It’s better to give one bag per household than six bags to one household. This way, everyone benefits, and no one is left behind.”

Mercy Dinha, the Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, responded, “I understand your concern, Hon. Karenyi, but the current criteria are gazetted by the Government, so if that has to be changed, it means government has to sit down to change that system and ensure that everyone benefits and ensure each household gets a bag of maize. But at the moment, we are following the laid down procedure.”

Karenyi pressed on, “But, Hon. Minister, the fact remains that everyone is starving. Why not reconsider the allocation method? Give every household a chance to receive maize, rather than concentrating it in a few households.”

The government allocates maize to the most needy households, and each person receives 7.5 kgs per month.

As the debate continued, the MPs’ words echoed the desperation of a nation on the edge, pleading for a fairer distribution of maize to alleviate the suffering of the hungry.

There were also concerns about the late distribution, Dinha responded, “I think right now the maize that we have been distributing is for May, June and July.” she said.

“The distribution process will end in July. It was for those three months. If we say May we rush and distribute, June or July, the transport cost as well as administration cost become more. We realise that if we give them maize for three months, it will be good, it reduces costs especially for transport as well as administration and ensuring that people do not travel up and down to receive the maize. At the moment, the allocations were for May, June and July.”

The food aid program is expected to end in March next year, but many families have been left without access to basic food necessities due to the El Nino phenomenon experienced in the past farming season.

In the community

Hwange police seek public’s help in locating missing teen

Published

3 weeks ago

May 15, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

The Hwange police are urgently seeking the public’s assistance in locating 16-year-old Latoya Lisa Munkuli, who went missing on May 7, this month.

Latoya, a dark-complexioned female juvenile, was last seen leaving her residence in Hwange around 4 pm.

She was wearing a distinctive outfit consisting of green trousers and a white T-shirt, and carried a black satchel. She stands approximately 1.6 meters tall.

Inspector Glory Banda of the Hwange police is leading the investigation and urges anyone with information about Latoya’s whereabouts to come forward.

If you have any information about Latoya’s disappearance, please contact Inspector Banda on 0785961747 or 0771256607.

In the community

Human-wildlife conflict claims 18 lives in Zimbabwe’s first quarter

Published

2 months ago

April 16, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has reported a disturbing trend of human-wildlife conflict in the country’s first quarter of 2025. According to the authority, 18 people have lost their lives, and 32 others have been injured in encounters with wildlife.

ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo revealed that the authority received 579 cases of human-wildlife conflict, which they managed to respond to promptly. The incidents have also resulted in significant livestock losses, with at least 53 cattle and 85 goats killed by wildlife.

The districts most affected by these incidents include Binga, Hwange, Kariba, Chiredzi, Hurungwe, Nyaminyami, and Mbire. ZimParks has been working tirelessly to raise awareness about wildlife behaviors and effective preventive measures in these areas.

In response to the crisis, ZimParks has translocated 129 animals back into protected areas and eliminated 158 animals deemed problematic.

“We encourage communities to continue reporting incidents to ZimParks Problem Animal Control numbers and local leadership, such as Councillors, Traditional Leaders, and Rural District Council Authorities, to ensure that we preserve lives,” Farawo urged.

The significant increase in livestock losses, with cattle deaths rising from 18 to 53 and goat deaths from 21 to 85 compared to the same period in 2024, highlights the growing challenge of human-wildlife conflict in Zimbabwe.

ZimParks’ efforts to mitigate the conflict include community initiatives to educate people on managing wildlife encounters effectively.

In the community

Crocodile attacks claim 9 lives, injure 11

Published

3 months ago

March 13, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A surge in crocodile attacks has left a trail of death and destruction in Zimbabwe, with 9 fatalities and 11 injuries reported in the last two months.

According to a statement released by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), 49 human-crocodile conflict cases were recorded during the same period, resulting in the loss of 44 cattle and 60 goats.

The Mid-Zambezi region, which includes Lake Kariba, Angwa River, and Hunyani River, was the hardest hit, with 19 cases reported. The Central region recorded 14 cases, while 16 cases were reported in other areas, including Matopo, Harare, North-West Matabeleland, and South-East Low-veld.

ZimParks has urged communities to exercise extreme caution, especially around water bodies, during the current rain season. The authority has advised communities to ensure that livestock and children are not left unattended near rivers or lakes, and to take precautions when engaging in water activities such as fishing, swimming, and domestic chores.

To mitigate the situation, ZimParks is working closely with local authorities and conservation partners to raise public awareness and promote safety practices. The authority has emphasized its commitment to finding a balance between ensuring public safety and conserving wildlife.

As the situation continues to unfold, ZimParks has appealed to the public to remain vigilant and to report any crocodile sightings or attacks to the authorities.