Zimbabwe receives US$32m from ARC

CLOUDINE MATOLA

The Africa Risk Capacity (ARC), an agency of the African Union, has given US$32m to Zimbabwe in order to lessen the effects of the drought brought on by El Nino, Business Times can report.

At least 508 500 households from 27 districts across the country are anticipated to benefit from the funds.

The Government of Zimbabwe received US$16.8m while US$6.1m and US$8.9m went to the World Food Programme and Start Network respectively.

Speaking at the Africa Risk Capacity Drought Insurance payout ceremony in the capital Harare on Thursday, the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Professor Mthuli Ncube said the event marked a historic milestone in the country’s efforts to lessen the detrimental effects of drought.

“(About) 508 500 people are essentially being targeted for this payout,” Professor Ncube said.

He continued: “And it is our intention to expand the program so that in the next subsequent years going forward, we cover households from every district-basically not just half of them.

So, we want to cover the whole country.”