03.04.2024 15:12
Southern African country has grain deficit of 680,000 metric tons, with more than 2.7M people in need of food aid, says President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared Wednesday a state of emergency as the current drought ravages the country.
Zimbabwe becomes the third African country to declare the current drought a national disaster, following Zambia and Malawi.
Mnangagwa told reporters at State House in Harare that the southern African country has a grain deficit of 680,000 metric tons, with more than 2.7 million people in need of food aid.
"Dear Zimbabweans; The foregoing situation of the climate change-induced drought requires measures and interventions as provided for in our laws. To that end, I do hereby declare a nationwide State of Disaster, due to the El Nino- induced drought," he added.
Mnangagwa said the country is now banking on importing grain from other countries. Zimbabwe planted close to 2 million hectares of maize which have been scorched by the El-Nino heat. -