Plea for drought relief

TANATSWA KANDENGA/TENDAIISHE NYAMUKUNDA

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has announced a national and international call for drought relief in response to the catastrophic El-Nino weather phenomenon in order to help both urban and rural inhabitants suffering from the effects of the drought.

It follows last month’s declaration of a state of disaster due to the drought by President Mnangagwa.
The move set off resource mobilization initiatives targeting among other groups, the private sector, , the international community, the United Nations family, and stakeholders in the diaspora.

A detailed appeal statement would be released in due course, according to Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr. Jenfan Muswere, who spoke at a media post-cabinet briefing.

Commenting on the latest development, Sirak  Gebrehiwot,the  United Nations spokesperson in Zimbabwe said the UN has been consistently working with Government  agencies over the government’s appeal of US$2bn.

“The Government has appealed and we have been consistently working with relevant Government agencies coordinated by the Ministry of Local Government.

“We have the consolidating appeal that compliments the government that the President declared a state of disaster last month following the humanitarian country team lead by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Edward Kallon.

“I have been consulting the UN agencies and Governmental organisations that are present here in Zimbabwe in terms of putting together ways of complementing the Government’s appeal of US$2 billion,”Gebrehiwot said.