Hwange, (New Ziana) – A group of non-governmental organisations has donated livestock feed to several households in Hwange district whose livestock was on the verge of succumbing to drought.

The district, which is prone to drought, has so far not received significant rains, putting livestock in the area at risk of starvation.

This prompted the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development and Caritas to mobilise animal feed assistance for several households in the district.

Caritas official, Super Dube, said food was also donated to vulnerable households in the district.

“Households got 550kgs of stock feed. In total, the rural communities received 10 tonnes sorghum, five tonnes of cow peas and 699 tonnes of stockfeed. A total number of 3 215 cattle benefited from the program,” he said.

“This support comes after the global pandemic of COVID-19 put the farmers and livestock at risk of starvation. The farmers could not get the stock feed due to the impacts of COVID -19 which include travel restrictions,” said Dube.

In the whole of Matabeleland North Province, more than 4 500 cattle have died from hunger this year, a 500 percent increase over last year.
New Ziana