Conrad Mupesa-Mashonaland West Bureau
GOVERNMENT has warned officials involved in the distribution of food aid against corruption, favouritism and unfair targeting as Zimbabwe prepares for another potentially difficult lean season amid forecasts of below-normal rainfall.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo said Government had put structures in place to respond to food insecurity and would work with development partners to ensure vulnerable households receive assistance when the next food distribution programme begins.
He said transparency, fair targeting and equitable distribution would be critical in ensuring that deserving households were not excluded from assistance.
“We do not expect any corruption; we don’t expect any favouritism whatsoever. So when the time to give this food assistance comes, we need really to be very fair, we need to be equitable, we need to reach everybody who deserves,” Minister Moyo said.
He was speaking in Kadoma on Wednesday at a two-day workshop attended by Government officials, traditional leaders, development partners and district-level coordinators to review lessons from the Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy (FDMS) and Lean Season Assistance (LSA) programme.
The programmes form a key component of Zimbabwe’s response to seasonal food insecurity, with Government working alongside development partners to provide assistance to vulnerable communities.
Minister Moyo said the review was also intended to strengthen preparedness for the coming lean season, particularly in light of the country’s 2026/27 rainfall outlook.
“Meteorologists have already indicated that we are going to have an El Niño phenomenon this year, which will result in below-normal rainfall. And that’s already an indication that we are going to have a drought. And therefore we need to come up with food mitigation strategies,” he said.
Zimbabwe’s 2026/27 national climate outlook indicates a significant likelihood of below-normal rainfall, particularly during the October-December period, with dry conditions expected to remain a concern into the first quarter of 2027. The Government has consequently been reviewing its drought response plans, with Cabinet recently approving an updated drought plan following the rainfall outlook.
Minister Moyo said the Kadoma workshop had provided an opportunity to assess what worked during the previous food distribution season and identify gaps before the next intervention.
He said the Government’s approach would be guided by the principle that vulnerable people should not be excluded because of where they live or other circumstances. “Our philosophy as expressed by the President is that no one and no place who is deserving should be left behind. So we need really to be very clear on that. So we are ready in terms of the ministry; our structures are there to make sure that those food-insecure households are catered for.”
Minister Moyo also said the Ministry of Agriculture had assured Government that there were sufficient food stocks to support the country through the lean season.
The Government’s preparedness comes against the background of the previous drought, when food assistance was rolled out nationally to millions of vulnerable people.
According to the Government’s 2026 National Budget, the El Niño-induced drought during the 2024/25 season resulted in severe food insecurity, prompting the distribution of grain to about 5.2 million beneficiaries.
The 2026 Mid-Term Budget and Economic Review also states that Government, working with development partners, provided food assistance to 1.7 million vulnerable people between January and April 2026.
Development partners are expected to continue playing a role in complementing Government’s response.
At the Kadoma workshop, traditional leaders also raised concerns about food insecurity in their communities.
Chief Msampakaruma said ongoing food assistance was making a difference in rural Kariba, but called for the programme to be expanded to cover more vulnerable households.
“The food assistance programmes are making a significant difference in our communities, particularly for families that are struggling to produce enough food because of poor rainfall. We appreciate the support being provided by Government and its partners, but we are appealing for the programmes to be strengthened and expanded so that no vulnerable household is left behind,” he said.
Mashonaland West Provincial Social Development Officer Agnes Mutowo said Government had already set aside 75 metric tonnes of mealie-meal for Kariba District, signalling preparations for food assistance in vulnerable areas.
Meanwhile, Matabeleland South Provincial Social Development Officer Criswell Nyakudya said the province was also preparing to mitigate hunger despite facing drought risks.
Mr Nyakudya said that while Matabeleland South was facing one of its worst droughts, the province had put measures in place to mitigate hunger.
Districts including Mutare, Mberengwa, Chiredzi, Buhera, Mudzi, Bulilima and Masvingo presented their targeted food distribution plans during the workshop.
The preparations come as Zimbabwe moves into a rainfall season expected to be characterised by erratic rainfall and prolonged dry spells.
With Government reviewing distribution systems and mobilising food stocks and partners, Minister Moyo said the focus now was on ensuring that assistance reaches the intended beneficiaries without discrimination, corruption or diversion.
Source: Govt warns against unfair food distribution – herald
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