Hunger And Covid-19
Nonhlanhla Ngwenya
For some 2020 has been a double blow, trying to stay safe from Covid-19 and fighting to get food to put on the table. Hunger and Covid-19 are issues that can not be separated when we look at the impacts the pandemic has had especially on struggling economies.
Covid-19 could have come at a different time for Professor Muzavazi from
St Mary’s Chitungwiza who survives through vending. Professor was one of the many people heavily affected by Covid-19. Lock-downs and calls for social distancing by government meant a closure to street vending business for many.
“l am a vendor, l sell all sorts of vegetables on the streets, that’s how l survive, Covid 19 changed everything, nothing was moving smoothly. Due to lock-down restrictions that prohibited us from selling on the streets, once we were caught selling our goods were confiscated by police and we were chased from our vending points making daily survival difficult for us”, she said.
Professor was not alone in the fight to put food on the table, this plight of many families in Chitungwiza reached the ears of Chitungwiza Residents Trust who came to their rescue feeding children in the community porridge every morning.
“l got relieved when i heard about the porridge programme because l knew that once my children were fed porridge in the morning then in the evening l would cook for supper. Shortage of food was not the only thing that affected us but lack of access to safe and clean water has also been a consistent problem.”, Professor added.
Chitungwiza Residents Trust director Alice Kuvheya confirmed helping children in the community with porridge, she added that they also provided vulnerable families with groceries to help ease the struggles of putting food on the table.
“As Chitrest we provided groceries for the needy families and also helped by providing water tanks in Chitungwiza community“.
Alice Kuvheya said,” As Chitrest we provided groceries for the needy families and also helped by providing water tanks in Chitungwiza community”.
Ward 2 coordinator Danai Bomba echoed the same sentiments saying, “Most families are struggling to provide food for their families, and women in the community do not have any source of income anymore due to Covid-19 enforced social restrictions and most of them have suddenly become unemployed leaders need to intervene , “.
“I wish our government could help women like me by letting us sell our goods so that our families can survive or help us with livelihoods projects to sustain us”, said Professor
