A cocktail of measures and strategies being implemented in Zimbabwe have resulted in positive outcomes to the urban households’ food security situation, the latest Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZIMVAC) survey has projected.
By Staff Reporter
According to the survey, food insecurity levels for urban areas are projected to have significantly decreased from 42 percent reported in 2020 to 29 percent in 2023.
Midlands (40 percent) had the highest proportion of households projected to be food insecure. Matabeleland South (22 percent) and Mashonaland Central (25 percent) had the least proportion of households projected to be food insecure. Mashonaland East had a significant decrease in food insecurity from 53% in 2020 to 27% in 2023,” the report reads.
Greater Harare 1 (5 percent), Kadoma (9 percent) and Gwanda (10 percent), had the least proportion of households projected to be food insecure. Redcliffe (71 percent) had the highest proportion of households projected to be food insecure.
An estimated 1,533,661 people are estimated to be cereal insecure in the urban areas. They will need 18 915 MT of cereal per month. Harare has the highest population of 705 480 which was projected to be cereal insecure. Mashonaland Central (21 646) had the least projected population of cereal insecure people.
Food security exists when all people at all times, have physical, social and economic access to food which is safe and consumed in sufficient quantity and quality to meet their dietary needs and food preferences and is supported by an environment of adequate sanitation, health services and care allowing for a healthy and active life (Food and Nutrition Security Policy, 2012).
The four dimensions of food security are: availability of food, Access to food, the safe and health utilization of food, the stability of food availability, access and utilization.
