Zimbabwe’s Urban Households to Continue Needing Food Assistance

Takudzwa Chihambakwe

Droughts which hit Zimbabwe for the past two years might now be behind us, but many families are still vulnerable despite the bumper harvest expected this year.

Zimbabwe will not be importing any grain this year and projections show that the number of people in need of food aid from government and its development partners will significantly drop especially in the rural areas.

However, those in the urban areas still need assistance due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic which left many jobless.

Public service, Labour, and Social Welfare Minister, Professor Paul Mavima said: “We may need to continue with assistance in urban areas through cash transfers. The urban economy has been affected due to Covid-19.

“Some people lost their jobs and income so there are quite a number of households that need to continue receiving the cash transfers. If we get genuine international assistance we will continue with it,” he added.

Government in March reviewed the cash transfer given to vulnerable persons from $300 to $1 500 per household per month.