Skip to main content

Zimbabwe MAAZW001 Annual Report 2012

Countries
Zimbabwe
Sources
IFRC
Publication date
Origin
View original

This report covers the period 1 January to 31 December 2012

Overview

Zimbabwe before 2002 used to be the bread basket of the continent and all countries would look down south for assistance in food security issues. 10 years later the country is undergoing difficulties as it relies on food aid. Zimbabwe is failing to produce enough to feed its own nationals due to consecutive droughts and poor growing seasons. Livestock has been greatly affected, as climate change has dried up main water streams resulting in poor grazing land. The water and sanitation situation has worsened over the years with 2012 being characterised by water borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid in different parts of the country. The Rural Livelihoods May 2012 Assessment Report (Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZIMVAC) 2012, established that a growing food insecurity crisis would peak in December 2012 – March 2013 with an estimated 1,667,518 people being in need of food assistance.

The financial sector has been performing poorly as a result of limited availability of cash due to the industries operating below 30% capacity. The introduction of the multiple currency economy has worsened the country’s economy making it difficult for households to purchase food for consumption from retails shops where stocks are available. The majority of Zimbabweans are operating below the poverty datum line with households relying on negative coping strategies such as skipping meals and food rationing for survival. The education and health system has been malfunctioning as employees in the sector have relentlessly been lobbying for pay increases.

In addressing the above challenges, Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS)’s focus in 2012 was on alleviating the suffering of the most vulnerable people and communities through the implementation of programmes aimed at contributing to the decline in deaths, injuries and impact from disasters, diseases and public health emergencies. This was achieved through implementing Food Security, Health and HIV, Disaster Management, Water and Sanitation as well as Organisational Development programmes.

The Society’s Food Security interventions reached out to 24,877 beneficiaries with support from the British Red Cross, World Food Programme (WFP) and the Japanese Government. The main focus on these programmes was to enhance food security interventions especially on food assistance, agricultural recovery and integration with water and sanitation activities.

A four year EU/ACP WatSan project funded by the EU, British and Finnish RC targeting 100,000 beneficiaries has so far reached 12,500 beneficiaries in its first year through the provision of safe water, sanitation facilities and health and hygiene education in Chivi district. A further 12,500 and 2,380 people were reached with safe water and improved latrines respectively across 6 provinces of Zimbabwe.

528 Orphans and Vulnerable Children received educational support with funding from the Norwegian Red Cross and Netherlands Red Cross in Mashonaland West, Manicaland and Matabeleland North under the Community Based HIV and AIDS, TB and Behaviour Change Programme.

The ZRCS Communications’ programme has been effective in terms of organisational visibility in key activities and commemorations such as World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day and World Health Day. Positive coverage was generated, through production of IEC materials, publications and stories published in both the electronic and print media.