2024 El Niño Drought Spurs Malnutrition in Gokwe

The El Niño-induced drought that gripped Zimbabwe during the 2023/24 rainy season has taken a devastating toll on nutrition, especially among children under five and pregnant women in Gokwe, prompting urgent intervention by humanitarian organisations.

Gokwe, one of the country's worst-hit districts, has seen a sharp increase in cases of acute malnutrition. In response, CARE Zimbabwe, in partnership with Nutrition Action Zimbabwe and Padare, launched a US$3.5 million emergency nutrition programme, funded by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).

The initiative has so far supported 24,800 vulnerable individuals in both Gokwe and Mutare, with 12,900 beneficiaries in Gokwe North receiving food assistance over four distribution cycles. The programme targets nutritional recovery while also building long-term community capacity to manage and prevent malnutrition.

Speaking during an ECHO media tour in Gokwe last week, Nutrition Action Zimbabwe executive director Tapiwa Magaisa said the initiative focused on both food distribution and community education.

"Beyond food aid, we're addressing acute malnutrition, supporting early identification and treatment at health facilities, and helping households diversify their diets using locally available food," Magaisa said.

The programme provided nutrition support to 1,137 pregnant and lactating women and reached caregivers of 13,406 children with education on diet diversification and feeding practices.

The Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) model was used to strengthen local health systems. Training was provided to 68 nurses across both districts, while 626 village health workers were capacitated to conduct active screening, identify cases of malnutrition, and provide critical data for decision-making.

Gokwe North district nutritionist Jane Mapindire, from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, said the initiative had already made a measurable difference.

"The drought led to a spike in malnutrition cases. This programme provided families with beans, matemba and other foods that improved dietary diversity," Mapindire said. "We've seen a significant drop in malnutrition, and the training of health workers has improved care."

For mothers like Shupikai Komba, the programme has been life-changing.

"I gave birth during the peak of the drought and struggled to feed my child. He became malnourished and was very weak," she recalled. "Thanks to Nutrition Action Zimbabwe, my child is now healthy and thriving."

As climate shocks like El Niño continue to affect Zimbabwe's food security, humanitarian agencies stress the need for sustainable nutrition interventions, community empowerment, and government support to prevent future crises.