President Emmerson Mnangagwa has allocated four metric tonnes of rice to the 360 Members of the National Assembly and Senate for distribution to citizens.
This was revealed in a letter dated December 2024, written by Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Secretary Simon Masanga, and addressed to Grain Marketing Board Chief Executive Edson Badarai. It reads in part:
<blockquote>
Please be advised that His Excellency Emmerson Mnangagwa has allocated 4mt to 360 Members of the National Assembly and Senate, for distribution to the indigent members within their respective constituencies in both urban and rural areas.
</blockquote>
CCC National Assembly proportional representation member Thokozani Khupe said on Friday that she distributed 3 tonnes of rice to 600 people in Cowdary Park, Bulawayo. She posted on X:
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Today, I distributed 3 tonnes of rice to 600 people in Cowdary Park, Ward 28, alongside Councillor Ntando Ndlovu, with each recipient receiving 5kg of rice.
Earlier, I distributed 1.5 tonnes of rice to Mpilo Hospital together with Senators K. Phulu and L. Sibanda, joined by Councillor Adrian Moyo of Ward 2.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is experiencing its worst drought in four decades, leaving over half of the population in urgent need of food aid.
There are growing concerns that the country could face another drought, as planting has yet to commence in some areas due to delayed rains. Additionally, the rainfall received so far has been unevenly distributed, exacerbating the situation.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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President Emmerson Mnangagwa gave 4 metric tonnes of rice to 360 Members of Parliament to help people in their areas. Thokozani Khupe shared rice with 600 people in Cowdary Park and Mpilo Hospital. Zimbabwe is facing a severe drought, and many people need food help. There are worries about another drought because of delayed planting and uneven rain. This aid from the government is trying to help those in need during this difficult time.

Members Of Parliament To Distribute Rice In Constituencies

Members of Parliament (MPs) have demanded a fair distribution of food aid in their respective constituencies amid reports some deserving households are reportedly being left out, reported <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/mps-demand-ministerial-statement-over-unfair-distribution-of-food-aid-deserving-households-starving/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>.
Zvimba East MP Kudakwashe Decide Mananzva (ZANU PF), said not all households were benefiting from the current distribution exercise. He said:
<blockquote>
We are grateful for the maize that is being distributed but my question is, maize is coming but only a few are benefitting.
One family can take up to six bags whilst another does not. What measures are you taking to ensure that everyone gets the maize grain because everyone is facing starvation?
</blockquote>
Mercy Dinha, the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, said 6.1 million people in Zimbabwe’s rural areas needed grain assistance.  She said:
<blockquote>
At the moment, there are 6 100 000 beneficiaries of grain in rural areas. People are receiving grain for three months allocation at one go.
One person receives 22.5 kgs which means, a father and mother plus children which is 22.5 times six.
That is why some receive a number of bags whilst some have not received them yet. That is an allocation of the chosen beneficiaries and the criteria has been that there are the most needy at that moment. They are considered as needing the grain at that moment.
</blockquote>
However, Mananzva questioned the distribution criteria being used as some households have been getting maize for previous months. He said:
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The maize that is being allocated in six months, is it in advance or it is backdated? If it is backdated, it means that people have survived, why do we not give grain to people in advance so that we all benefit?
</blockquote>
Dinha explained the criteria were cost-saving in terms of transport. She said:
<blockquote>
We have been distributing grain for May, June and July. The criteria reduce 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 are for May, June and July. After that, we start distributing for the next three months; so, it will be in batches of three months till March next year.
</blockquote>
Chikanga MP, Lynnette Karenyi-Kore (CCC), argued that the government should ensure that every household receives at least some basic food assistance, rather than the current approach which appears to be leaving out certain communities. Said Karenyi-Kore:
<blockquote>
According to their assessment, 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. The Hon. minister admitted that some get as much as six bags, but the fact of the matter is that everyone is starving.
As government, why do they not distribute the maize to everyone for the three months’ batch? It is better to give a bag per household than distributing six bags to one household.
</blockquote>
Dinha said the criteria were being used and as a rule gazetted by the government, if that had to be changed, it meant the government must sit down to change the system and ensure that everyone benefits and ensure each household gets a bag of maize.
Mananzva argued that Parliament is part of the government and it never agreed on the alleged procedure being followed. He said:
<blockquote>
If you say government laid down that procedure, we are the government and we are saying in Mutoko, no one at all received rains.
So, we want to know how you are going to distribute the maize expeditiously because everyone is starving. The situation is dire out there.
</blockquote>
Dinha promised to work with the Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development Minister, Anxious Masuka, to act according to MPs’ suggestions.
Goromonzi West legislator Beatrice Karimatsenga-Nyamupinga (ZANU PF) called on the responsible minister to issue a formal ministerial statement addressing the concerns around the grain distribution process. Said Karimatsenga-Nyamupinga:
<blockquote>
The two ministries concerned can bring a ministerial statement to this House because we cannot play with an issue that has to do with hunger.
Hunger can lead people to do anything and it is a security threat to have hunger in the country.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is facing one of the most severe droughts in living memory, caused by the El Niño weather pattern. This crisis has left about half the population in need of food aid.
In April 2024, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a national disaster due to the drought and appealed for $2 billion in international assistance to help millions of Zimbabweans facing hunger.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Members of Parliament are upset that not all deserving families are getting enough food aid in Zimbabwe. Some families get more bags of maize while others get none. The government says they have a criteria to decide who gets what in order to save money and make distribution easier. MPs want every family to get at least one bag of maize to help with the hunger crisis in the country. The government promised to work with MPs to improve the distribution system. Zimbabwe is facing a severe drought, leaving many people in need of food aid. President Mnangagwa declared a national disaster and asked for international help.

MPs Call For Equitable Distribution Of Food Aid

The government has said it will continue distributing food to vulnerable communities even during the lockdown, New Ziana reports.
This was reportedly revealed by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa during a COVID-19 media briefing after a COVID-19 inter-ministerial taskforce meeting. Mutsvangwa said:
<blockquote>The distribution of food aid will continue, certainly we want our people to continue having food. However distribution points will be increased to minimise large gatherings.
Grain and monetary payments are being made to 760 000 households throughout the country,</blockquote>
The minister did not shed light on how the food distribution will be handled without people congregating to collect the food.
More: <a href="http://newziana.co.zw/2020/03/28/food-distribution-to-continue-during-lockdown/">New Ziana</a>

Food Distribution To Vulnerable Communities To Continue During Lockdown - Govt

Villagers from Wedza talk about the hardships they are facing because they are aligned to opposition parties. They are not receiving any food aid or being employed due to their links with the opposition.
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CD9oRe2VRMo?feature=oembed" title="#TheInterview: Wedza villagers on partisan food aid, political harassment, unemployment" width="640"></iframe></div>
 
Video Credit: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxJHC1EBFZY4V5EiZo_pZbQ">NewsDay Zimbabwe Live</a>

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