Times Of Swaziland: THE PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY

THE PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY
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Editor on 10/09/2024 08:01:00


Sir,
The people are affected by acute hunger in communities, and it is time that
government does something. Growing crops has become a very expensive exercise,
such that people can hardly afford it. Many of the hungry failed to get a
harvest. These days, to harvest from 1 hactare, you need at least E10 000 in
tractor fees, fertilisers, seed and other necessities. Where will the people get
the money from? Some have stopped farming because of the drought that affects
crops. Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo tried to speak about this issue in
Parliament; but I doubt anyone listened or moved a finger to respond to the
crisis.
Surviving
I have seen people surviving on handouts, literally. If only they had
mealie-meal, it was going to be better, but they have absolutely nothing. We all
know that in siSwati they say Lijaha sisu, which literally means you cannot
survive without food. I do not condone crime, but I can predict that it will
rise as a result of hunger. Government must really do something to bring back
food relief to all communities. I also ask the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office
to urgently do an assessment of the hunger situation out there. They must go to
communities such as Lubulini, Sigwe, Lavumisa, where people literally go to bed
without having eaten anything. Bring back the genetically modified maize for
people to eat and survive the hunger.
I’m happy about the efforts of friends of the country such as the Taiwanese
and the World Food Programme. However, their efforts must be supplemented with a
sustainable food supply programme that will last at least six months before the
next planting season.Money must be taken from these never ending international
trips. If we managed to live without these trips between 2020 and 2021, then
surely we can suspend them for six months and use the savings to buy food for
the people.
Raised
I bet MP Khumalo raised the issue because he has been confronted by hungry
people out there. The MPs created a trend, over the years, in which they
supplied people with food parcels. The people do not know that MPs can only
support them before the elections. After that, they are on their own. I do not
blame them because the money they earn is only enough for their families. We
used to have long term sustainable programmes to alleviate hunger, such as the
Poverty Alleviation Fund, which was mismanaged until it closed down. The
Regional Development Fund requires 10 per cent contribution from applicants,
which is very difficult to raise. Now, we can only survive from relief aid.
We need to see the trucks loaded with food entering communities. We need those
long queues of people receiving food aid to come back. Children used to find
food distributed by WFP in Gogo Centres, but that has long stopped. Children
only eat at school, that is if the food supply is there. The high unemployment
makes the situation even more desperate. The youth have no jobs out there, yet
they have to support their families with food. The people are hungry and
something must be done very soon.
Concerned