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Matabeleland South gets highest foreign remittances
01 Aug 2017 at 06:58hrs | Views
MATABELELAND provinces received the highest amount in diaspora remittances last year, new figures show.
Matabeleland South came top accounting for 31,4 percent followed by Matabeleland North which accounted for 11 percent of the remittances.
The Midlands province came third receiving nearly 10 percent foreign remittances.
The Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVac) Rural Livelihood Assessment of 2017 said Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central had the least diaspora remittances at 1,8 percent each.
"Matabeleland South (31,4 percent) had the highest percentage of remittances from outside Zimbabwe followed by Matabeleland North (11,2 percent)," reads the ZimVac report.
The actual amounts of money received were not stated.
However, Matabeleland South's proximity to South Africa and Botswana could be the reason leading to the province having the highest percentage of foreign remittances.
Most of the families from Matabeleland region are supported by relatives based in neighbouring countries.
The report also states that the Government increased its support to households by over 30 percent in the period under review, with civil society groups doubling their efforts as well.
"There was a remarkable increase in Government support from 48,5 percent (2015/16) to 76,7 percent (2016/17). Mashonaland West (93,3 percent) had the highest proportion of households receiving support from Government followed by Mashonaland Central (90,5 percent). United Nations/non-governmental organisations support was highest in Manicaland (44,3 percent) followed by Masvingo (40,3 percent)" reads the ZimVac report.
It lauded the Government for helping people, but challenged it to curb the dependency syndrome by coming up with more sustainable projects to support households.
"In 2016/2017, the bulk of resources from both Government and partners went towards emergency and immediate food requirements for households. However, it is recommended that during the 2017/18 consumption year, more resources be channelled towards Government input support, household economy strengthening and building productive community assets. Interventions that strengthen households' economy and resilience are thus recommended to ensure households remain food and nutrition secure," reads the report.
Matabeleland South came top accounting for 31,4 percent followed by Matabeleland North which accounted for 11 percent of the remittances.
The Midlands province came third receiving nearly 10 percent foreign remittances.
The Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVac) Rural Livelihood Assessment of 2017 said Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central had the least diaspora remittances at 1,8 percent each.
"Matabeleland South (31,4 percent) had the highest percentage of remittances from outside Zimbabwe followed by Matabeleland North (11,2 percent)," reads the ZimVac report.
The actual amounts of money received were not stated.
Most of the families from Matabeleland region are supported by relatives based in neighbouring countries.
The report also states that the Government increased its support to households by over 30 percent in the period under review, with civil society groups doubling their efforts as well.
"There was a remarkable increase in Government support from 48,5 percent (2015/16) to 76,7 percent (2016/17). Mashonaland West (93,3 percent) had the highest proportion of households receiving support from Government followed by Mashonaland Central (90,5 percent). United Nations/non-governmental organisations support was highest in Manicaland (44,3 percent) followed by Masvingo (40,3 percent)" reads the ZimVac report.
It lauded the Government for helping people, but challenged it to curb the dependency syndrome by coming up with more sustainable projects to support households.
"In 2016/2017, the bulk of resources from both Government and partners went towards emergency and immediate food requirements for households. However, it is recommended that during the 2017/18 consumption year, more resources be channelled towards Government input support, household economy strengthening and building productive community assets. Interventions that strengthen households' economy and resilience are thus recommended to ensure households remain food and nutrition secure," reads the report.
Source - chronicle
