Zimbabwe declares state of emergency as drought ravages country

By Jeffrey Moyo

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AA) - Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared Wednesday a state of emergency as the current drought ravages the country.

Zimbabwe becomes the third African country to declare the current drought a national disaster, following Zambia and Malawi.

Mnangagwa told reporters at State House in Harare that the southern African country has a grain deficit of 680,000 metric tons, with more than 2.7 million people in need of food aid.

“Dear Zimbabweans; The foregoing situation of the climate change-induced drought requires measures and interventions as provided for in our laws. To that end, I do hereby declare a nationwide State of Disaster, due to the El Nino- induced drought,” he added.

Mnangagwa said the country is now banking on importing grain from other countries. Zimbabwe planted close to 2 million hectares of maize which have been scorched by the El-Nino heat.