News / National
WFP brings relief to hungry Mwenezi villagers
16 Aug 2016 at 12:59hrs | Views
Several wards in Mwenezi district which have been experiencing food deficit in the past years are receiving support from the World Food Programme (WFP) through conditional lean season and seasonal targeted assistance programmes.
WFP constructed a dam in Tsvimborume Village last year and a garden for the local community which is part of the productive assert creation programme.
The projects have changed many livelihoods in the Tsvimborume area in Ward 5 and surrounding villages like Makotore, Tsumele and Chigama. About 600 households with a total population of over 2 000 people and their livestock are now benefiting from the weir.
Currently, the water levels in the dam are at about 90% hence the community is making full use of the water for their domestic use while livestock is also accessing drinking water.
Speaking during a field visit of the site, Ngwarirai Mapire a beneficiary said, the project was a means of alleviating poverty, hunger and malnutrition in the area.
"We are very happy to have such a development in our community, our children and everyone is excited because of the project which is helping us. We give great thanks to the WFP for supporting our communities," said Mapire.
The 2015-2016 WFP's productive assert creation programme is targeting districts that have been permanently affected by shocks such as the current extreme water shortages.
In Tsvimborume area, the WFP has constructed a one hectare garden which is also a part of its production assert projects benefiting more than 100 people.
One of the beneficiaries of the projects BetildaMasvarimba said she had been growing vegetables for her family through the project. "I have been getting plenty of vegetables for my family from the garden and I did not have any day that my family did not have relish. However, the situation was very bad before the construction of the dam", she said.
The garden has beans, tomatoes and butternuts which are being sold at $1 for 4. "We are happy with the development and we thank WFP," said Chief Nemashangwe.
WFP constructed a dam in Tsvimborume Village last year and a garden for the local community which is part of the productive assert creation programme.
The projects have changed many livelihoods in the Tsvimborume area in Ward 5 and surrounding villages like Makotore, Tsumele and Chigama. About 600 households with a total population of over 2 000 people and their livestock are now benefiting from the weir.
Currently, the water levels in the dam are at about 90% hence the community is making full use of the water for their domestic use while livestock is also accessing drinking water.
Speaking during a field visit of the site, Ngwarirai Mapire a beneficiary said, the project was a means of alleviating poverty, hunger and malnutrition in the area.
The 2015-2016 WFP's productive assert creation programme is targeting districts that have been permanently affected by shocks such as the current extreme water shortages.
In Tsvimborume area, the WFP has constructed a one hectare garden which is also a part of its production assert projects benefiting more than 100 people.
One of the beneficiaries of the projects BetildaMasvarimba said she had been growing vegetables for her family through the project. "I have been getting plenty of vegetables for my family from the garden and I did not have any day that my family did not have relish. However, the situation was very bad before the construction of the dam", she said.
The garden has beans, tomatoes and butternuts which are being sold at $1 for 4. "We are happy with the development and we thank WFP," said Chief Nemashangwe.
Source - Masvingo Mirror
