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Starving in silence: The plight of rural Mat’land communities

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

In the scorching rural outskirts of Victoria Falls, a heartbreaking encounter at the Ndlovu turn-off bus stop revealed the harsh reality of Zimbabwe’s deepening food insecurity crisis.

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The country’s Constitution (2013) guarantees every person the right to food and water (Section 77(a), but the harsh reality on the ground tells a different story.

A frail 70-year-old man from Chisuma, struggling to speak and walk due to hunger, exposed the dire situation faced by many in Matabeleland North province.

 

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Jonathan Sibanda’s story is a stark representation of the devastating impact of drought and El Niño effects on vulnerable communities in Hwange and beyond.

With his wife ailing and two orphaned grandchildren to care for, he embarked on a desperate journey to the Social Welfare headquarters in Hwange, seeking assistance.

“I am going to the Social Welfare offices in Hwange to plead for help,” he said as he waited for a ride to embark on a 70-kilometer journey to the offices on Monday.

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“The orphans I am taking care of are in grades five and seven; they are mine because one was my late son’s, and the other was my daughter’s.

“At home, there is nothing. I have been trying to ask my neighbors where I can work to clear fields and dig trenches in exchange for mealie-meal, but they are also getting tired of my pleas.”

For the day, Sibanda says they eat porridge in the morning, often without nutritional value or at least sugar, and wait for the next day or evening if there is any mealie-meal.

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“We eat porridge every day, but I am always sick because sometimes we sleep without food.

“I am on antiretroviral therapy, which requires me to take four tablets every evening, but it’s hard because I even struggle to do some piece jobs because my legs, arms, and back ache,” he said as he tried to balance with his wooden stick.

Daina Maseko (70) from Hwange is also appealing for food aid as she struggles with starvation. She’s alone, on antiretroviral drugs and has a bone illness.

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Daina Maseko

“As an elderly person living with HIV and a bone illness, I’m finding it hard to cope with the devastating effects of the drought,”she says.

But it’s not just me, I worry about the children and pregnant womne in my community who are also going hungry. They’re the future of our nation, and it’s heartbreaking to see them suffering like this. Children are fainting in school, their parents struggling to feed them… It’s a desperate situation.”

In June, at Chimbombo Primary School, a nine-year-old girl fainted due to starvation.

Her grandmother, Elitha Dube, says the incident happened on her way from school as they had spent two nights without food.

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The Sadc Gender Protocol, a regional instrument that aims to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in Southern Africa, in its framework for member in Article 16: sets out the right to food security and nutrition

“Women have the right to food security and nutrition. States shall ensure that women have equal access to food and nutrition, and shall take measures to ensure that women are not denied access to food and nutrition…”

However, Hwange district medical officer,  Fungai Musimani’s recent revelation of a rising number of malnutrition cases in the district shows a different realistic picture.

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Dr Fungai Musinami

She says young children, pregnant and lactating women, elderly people, and people with disabilities top the list of vulnerable individuals in the district and the province at large.

“I have treated elderly women with kwashiorkor, and in general, people lack foods with minerals, iron, and vitamins. The situation is dire throughout the region.”

Area councilor Given Moyo echoed similar concerns, highlighting the government’s failure to provide adequate food aid to struggling rural communities.

“Everyone is hungry in this community, and we all need food,” he said.

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“When the Social Welfare programs come, people lack empathy due to starvation, so most vulnerable individuals end up being left out because they don’t get nominated.

“As you see this man here (Sibanda), I advised him to go to the offices because we report these pleas to them, but the reaction shows that they think these issues are fabricated.

“I have a long list of people that I have forwarded to the offices including the widows, unemployed people, the elderly, the list is endless.”

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Alarming mid-term statistics from Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube paint a grim picture: 520 524 people in Matabeleland North province struggle to access basic nutrition.

The region, battered by severe El Niño effects, is in dire need of assistance.

While the government has distributed 1 839.2 metric tonnes of grain, this represents a mere 16% of the required 11 711.8 metric tonnes needed to sustain the population for three months.

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Matabeleland North province minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Richard Moyo says response will be crucial in mitigating this disaster.

“It is not enough, but we now have Isiphala seNkosi program to add into the social welfare programs. We also have donor community also joining us, but at this point, we understand their plight and it is crucial that we uplift these communities.”Moyo notes.

As the food insecurity crisis deepens in the country, this year researchers say  approximately  seven million people’s lives of vulnerable communities hang in the balance.

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In the community

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

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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In the community

Crocodile attacks claim 9 lives, injure 11

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Nkayi

Nkayi man sentenced to 20 years for murdering patron

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BY STAFF REPORTER

In a High Court circuit sitting in Hwange, a 23-year-old man from Gwelutshena was sentenced to 20 years in prison for murder.

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Mtabisi Ndimande was convicted of killing a 39-year-old man in a brutal axe attack that occurred on August 5, 2024, at DZ Sports Bar in Inyathi.

The court heard that Ndimande had been drinking beer with the deceased when an argument ensued.

Despite intervention from a security guard, Ndimande pulled out an axe and struck the deceased on the head.

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The blow caused the deceased to collapse, while the axe remained embedded in his head. The offender then removed the axe and walked away.

The deceased bled profusely and was taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on August 6, 2024.

The police responded to the scene and recovered the axe.

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