Zimbabwe is currently facing a severe drought caused by poor rains that affected food harvests between October 2018 and May 2019. In August 2019, the government declared the 2018/19 drought and cropping season “a State of National Disaster” and appealed for international humanitarian assistance. Reports from WFP estimate that at least 2 million people are affected.
The prices of staple food (maize) have increased by 31 per cent higher compared to the same time last year. The severe drought crisis is coupled with an economic crisis caused by the uncertainty that arose after the pronouncement of the Statutory Instrument 2019 -142 that pronounced the Zimbabwean Dollar to be the sole currency for legal tender purposes; creating some ambiguity as the currency is facing shortages and limiting household market access hence worsening the situation for poor households.
Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare with support from UN Agencies WFP and FAO are currently coordinating the emergency response. ACT Zimbabwe Forum has been working in Zimbabwe since 2003, now helping/planning to help people affected by the drought
