By
Costa
Nkomo
However,
the
government
has
been
tight-lipped
about
the
total
amount
of
donations
received
since
April
when
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa
declared
the
drought
a
state
of
disaster.
Mnangagwa,
who
appealed
for
US$3
billion
to
secure
food
for
the
hungry
population,
spent
millions
in
the
lead-up
to
the
44th
Ordinary
SADC
Summit,
where
he
assumed
the
chairmanship.
Critics
have
pointed
to
this
as
a
demonstration
of
misplaced
priorities,
particularly
as
the
government
poured
resources
into
building
luxury
villas
to
entice
summit
guests.
The
World
Food
Programme
(WFP),
responsible
for
distributing
the
aid,
described
the
Korean
support
as
timely
and
instrumental
in
bolstering
food
assistance
efforts
during
the
lean
season.
Deputy
Country
Director
Billy
Mwiinga
highlighted
Korea’s
commitment
to
global
solidarity.
“The
partnership
between
the
Government
of
Korea,
the
World
Food
Programme,
and
the
Government
of
Zimbabwe
is
a
shining
example
of
how
global
solidarity
can
address
some
of
the
most
pressing
challenges
of
our
time,”
said
Mwiinga.
“Korea’s
consistent
support
demonstrates
a
deep
understanding
of
the
importance
of
international
cooperation
in
the
face
of
global
challenges.
Their
commitment
to
humanitarian
aid
is
not
only
commendable
but
essential
in
our
shared
mission
to
alleviate
hunger
and
malnutrition
in
Zimbabwe,”
he
added.
The
donation
will
only
provide
food
for
an
estimated
22
000
people
yet
as
of
February
this
year,
approximately
nine
million
Zimbabweans
were
reported
to
require
food
aid,
with
that
need
expected
to
continue
until
at
least
March
2025.
The
Korean
Ambassador
to
Zimbabwe,
Park
Jae
Kyung,
noted
the
importance
of
Zimbabwe
adopting
innovative
agricultural
practices
that
address
climate
change
impacts,
given
the
country’s
recent
exposure
to
cyclones
and
droughts.
“We
are
of
the
view
that
innovation
in
agriculture
will
enhance
resilience
towards
climate
change,”
said
Kyung.
When
asked
to
confirm
the
total
amount
of
donations
received
from
donors,
the
government
remained
evasive.
Deputy
Minister
of
Public
Service
Mercy
Dinha
stated
that
the
government
has
entered
the
second
phase
of
food
aid
distribution
and
has
reached
approximately
50%
of
those
in
need.
“From
the
day
the
state
of
disaster
was
declared,
we
have
been
receiving
support
from
various
people.
We
are
not
closing
the
appeal
yet.
“We
are
still
asking
for
more
support,
as
you
see
many
times
donations
keep
on
coming,
including
today’s
donation,
which
will
go
a
long
way
in
assisting
people
to
get
food.
We
are
about
to
reach
50
percent
of
food
aid
distribution,”
Dinha
said.