Starvation as officials delay food relief projects

Some 500,000 people are in need of food assistance in drought-prone Masvingo province, the ‘Daily News’ reported on Tuesday. The independent daily alleged that funds meant for food-for-work-programmes remained unspent in rural district council accounts. Alphonse Chikurira, the provincial administrator was quoted as saying: “Most councils have informed us that the money has not been released to needy families since the local authorities have not come up with projects. We are calling on the local authorities to immediately come up with these projects because the money is sorely needed for relief aid.”