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WFP Emergency Report No. 15 of 2005
Relief Web
April 08, 2005

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/DDAD-6B9QNS?OpenDocument&rc=1&cc=zwe

Zimbabwe
(a) Parliamentary elections held on 31 March were generally peaceful, with the incumbent ruling party winning a majority of seats. Cabinet appointments, as well as Government appointments to 30 parliamentary seats, are expected soon.

(b) Good rains were received in the semi-arid Matabeleland region during the past week. The rains have come too late for an already-wilted crop. However, they will improve the condition of pasture for animals and the availability of drinking water. Senior government officials continue to express concern over an expected poor harvest in the country. However, the government has not yet announced plans to meet the anticipated harvest shortfall.

(c) A steep price increase in all basic commodities and a severe shortage of fuel and maize meal products is reported. The price of some commodities has increased by over 100 percent, while the Grain Marketing Board is reported to be holding urgent consultations over the shortage of maize products. When available, the price of a kilo of maize grain ranges from the equivalent of US27-38 cents, well above the casual daily wage equivalent to US25 cents.

(d) Motorists are queuing for hours to buy fuel when it is available. The shortage is worst felt in Bulawayo city, where supplies are critically low.

(e) WFP expects to feed 1.1 million beneficiaries during April through three targeted programmes: school feeding, supplementary feeding for malnourished children and support for HIV/AIDS affected households. However, WFP’s food supplies to programmes are running low, with significant shortages expected in May. Without additional resources, WFP will be forced to reduce support to a targeted 1.1 million beneficiaries, most of them children and HIV/AIDS affected households. The most critical needs are for cereals and corn-soya blend.

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