Jairos Jiri Association For The Rehabilitation Of The Disabled and Blind

Emergency Response to Food Crisis in Zimbabwe 2017

Jairos Jiri Association in partnership with CBM is implementing a Food Emergency Project in
8 districts; Mutoko and Mudzi (Mashonaland East Province), Chivi, Bikita, Mwenezi and
Chiredzi (Masvingo Province) and Matobo and Insiza (Matebeleland South Province). The
overall objective of the project is:
To reduce the vulnerability of households with people with disabilities - especially children -
their surrounding communities and all Jairos Jiri Association Schools and Centres to food
insecurity during the peak of the crisis in Zimbabwe. The project has three important
dimensions namely:

Minimizing impact of food related incidences

Facilitating rapid recovery
Providing transition from response to recovery through support with livestock and
sustainable small scale farming activities.

The selected beneficiaries receive food packs (consisting of mealie meal, cooking oil, dried
Kapenta fish, sugar beans and sugar), small livestock (goats and indigenous chickens) and
community gardens with boreholes The project also seeks to improve knowledge on nutrition
among the beneficiaries through training and provision of nutritious food.

One of the beneficiaries of the programme Anna Chitsa (29) lives in Mukwaira village of Ward
8 in Mudzi District with her daughter Marble Musakanda (5) who has cerebral palsy and her 2
little brothers. Anna was abandoned by her husband after realising the disability of their
daughter and she survives through casual labour. Anna is a beneficiary of food under the Food
Emergency Program.

Anna Chitsa and her daughter Marble Musakanda after receiving foodstuffs
Anna has been trained on the four-star diet. She says that she will start giving her child a healthy
plate all the time. She says she will harvest indigenous vegetables which are abundantly
available during the rainy season to lessen relish challenges during the dry season.

Another beneficiary Mr. Muchineripi Svondo from Nyamakwe Village of ward 16 in Chivi
District says, it was now difficult to get enough food for his household as the challenge
emanates from the poor rains received in the 2015/2016 agricultural season in their district. Mr.
Svondo reported that a 20 litre bucket of maize is going for $7 in his ward which can only feed
his family for a week and half and this is beyond his reach. As a coping strategy his household
has resorted to an average of 1 meal per day. However, through the assistance from Jairos Jiri
Association Mr. Svondo says his family is now able to have adequate and healthy meals.

Mr. Tyavati (Chivi DA), Mr Zizhou (Social Welfare Officer from Chivi) and Mr Muchineripi Svondo
(Project Beneficiary) appreciate the support that Jairos Jiri Association is giving to the community

Jairos Jiri Association strives to alleviate the suffering of people with disability through
supporting them with livelihood activities such as rearing of goats and indigenous chickens and
promoting inclusive community gardens. The organisation complements the government
efforts to cushion vulnerable groups from the drought effects through the Department of Social
Welfare.