Tawanda Marwizi
The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society recently distributed food vouchers to villagers in Mwenezi District.
The programme being implemented in partnership with the British Red Cross saw the villagers getting food hampers worth US$65 each.
At least 10 000 people are benefiting from the programme that started in January this year.
Hundreds of villagers recently thronged Neshuro and Rutenga business centres to receive the food hampers.
The ZRCS programmes officer Tinomutenda Maphosa said the food relief aid was being distributed in three wards of the district.
“We have been in Mwenezi District since January with the food security response programme focusing on the three wards.
“We stopped briefly in June after harvests but due to poor rains they experienced last year we had to resume with the same programme,” he said.
Maphosa said the programme until February 2021.
“The drought relief committee that has all government departments highlighted the areas of drought risk, particularly, the three wards so we had to resume with the project,” he said.
Beneficiaries said the programme had brought a a huge relief to the villagers.
Viola Maranda, who is a custodian to three orphans, and hails from Village 13 said the vouchers were a welcome relief to her family.
“We are a family of six and this programme has assisted us in a big way. Now we have food and besides that they are also teaching us about COVID-19,” she said.
A similar project is being implemented in three wards in Chipinge District, Manicaland Province.
