THE 2021 lean season experienced by Zimbabwe has severely influenced on food insecurity and deteriorating nutrition in some parts of the country’s low-lying areas an effect spread to May 2022.
Crisis (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, IPC Phase 3) outcomes was expected to prevail in the southern, western, and extreme northern areas as the 2012/22 lean season continues through November 2021 to March 2022 (Famine Early Warning Systems Network, October to May 2022 Outlook).
This situation was further exacerbated by the devaluation of the local currency coupled with the debilitating effects of COVID-19 pandemic and a bad 2020/21 agricultural season contributing to inflation in the local market.
The volatile macroeconomic environment continued to pose livelihood and food access challenges especially for poor households in both rural and urban areas.
The Zimbabwean nation was also bedevilled by the pernicious problem of crop pests and livestock diseases.
These incidents worsened the situation for the already weakened and vulnerable population include poor communities, population affected by other disasters etc.
Annual inflation has been on the increase from 50.24% recorded in August 2021 to 52% in the month of September 2021.
The World Food Programme monthly food security report (September 2021) reported that month-on-month food inflation increased from 50,5% in August 2021 to 54,5%, resulting in most rural communities struggling to purchase food items.
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Within Chiredzi district which is one of the food insecure districts in the country, Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) conducted an operation to assess and assist the food insecure population motivated by the above humanitarian imperative stating the districts at IPC 3 category (wards 13, 14, 15 and 22) representing a crisis phase following FEWSNET 2021 prevision captures.
At the time of closing the Disaster Response Emergency Fund operation, Zimbabwe was in the peak of the lean season (February to May 2022), the rest of the district wards moved to the Phase 2 Crisis and approximately 167 500 people were at the risk of food shortages, hunger, and starvation as well as water, sanitation and hygiene, and health-related challenges.
Since October 2021, the district received assistance from humanitarian organizations and ZRCS, but impact of the lean season and the various crisis are limiting the support and hence growing concerns that the situation could deteriorate even further as shown in the recent forecasts for June to January 2023.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Sex education for our kids needs a more proactive approach
I FEEL it’s not enough to try solving the societal problem of unwanted pregnancies with abortion alone.
It is similarly irresponsibly insufficient to just give students the condom-and-banana demonstration along with the address to the nearest Planned Parenthood clinic as their sex education.
As liberal democracies, we cannot prevent anyone from bearing children, including those who insist upon procreating regardless of their inability to raise children in a psychologically functional/healthy manner.
We can, however, educate all young people for the most important job ever, even those high-schoolers who plan to remain childless.
If nothing else, such child development curriculum could offer students an idea/clue as to whether they’re emotionally suited for the immense responsibility and strains of parenthood.
Given what is at stake, should they not at least be equipped with such valuable science-based knowledge?
For example, it could teach how a human fetus is aware of its mother’s emotions.
According to an online article: “When a mother both consciously and subconsciously wanted to be pregnant and welcomed her baby, the child thrived. When the mother either consciously or subconsciously wanted the baby, the child was fine. When the mother neither consciously nor subconsciously wanted the baby, the child felt the effects of this hostile emotional climate. I remember a story of a woman who not only didn't want her baby but also resented his intrusive presence in her body.
“When the Italian doctor would use an ultrasound to view the baby as the mother talked about her resentments of him and the pregnancy, the baby would curl up in a tiny ball in a corner of the uterus, trying to make himself very small. Even in-utero, a baby can feel the power of his/her mother’s heart. When considering having children, making a thoughtful, heartful, integrated decision is important for the overall wellbeing of a child.”
Yet, owing to the “only if it’s in my own back yard (OIIIMOBY)” mindset, the prevailing collective attitude is: Why should I care, my kids are alright? or What is in it for me, the taxpayer?
While some people will justify it as a normal thus moral human evolutionary function, the self-serving OIIIMOBY can debilitate social progress, even when social progress is most needed.-Frank Sterle Jr
Mnangagwa must stop persecuting dissenting voices
THE ongoing persecution by prosecution of opposition members, government critics, artistes, journalists, civic society voices puts it beyond doubt that Zimbabwe is a full-blown dictatorship and outpost of tyranny.
The rule of law has broken down and the malicious conviction of our members, most recently Honourable Job Sikhala demonstrates that it is not yet uhuru in Zimbabwe.
Robert Mugabe was bad, but his successor Emmerson Mnangagwa is worse. Mnangagwa has perfected the art of repression.
In this light, we condemn the weaponisation of the law against government critics, especially members of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
We call for an end to the abuse of our courts and legal system by Zanu PF.
We reiterate our clarion call to the citizens to put an end to these repeated violations of the Constitution and the selective application of the law.
Our halls of justice must not be tainted by the poison of partisan politics.
We are aware of Zanu PF’s intention to provoke us to bring about circumstances which place the nation under siege and provide justification to avoid an election.
This is out year of victory for change. Zimbabwe is desperate for new, ethical, competent leaders.
We are thus focused on putting a permanent end to all manner of persecution, abuse of the law and mass suffering.
A CCC government will free all political prisoners, restore the rule of law and ensure freedom, justice and equality for all.
No person will be abused or persecuted by State institutions, including the courts.
Our goal is to usher in a New Great Zimbabwe that enables prosperity, dignity and freedom for all.-Fadzayi Mahere CCC national spokesperson
