El Niño weather effect compels Zimbabwe to declare ‘state of disaster’

Zimbabwe’s president, Robert Mugabe, has declared a state of disaster in rural areas hit by a severe drought, as more than a quarter of the population face food shortages. A regional drought worsened by the El Niño weather phenomenon has affected South Africa, Malawi and Zambia as well as Zimbabwe, leaving tens of thousands of cattle dead, reservoirs depleted and crops destroyed. Formerly known as the breadbasket of Africa, Zimbabwe has suffered perennial shortages in recent years and has relied on importing grain from neighboring countries to meet its needs.
Mugabe has blamed low farm yields on erratic rains due to climate change, as well as sanctions imposed by western countries over the government’s human rights record. Critics say the food shortages have been caused partially by land reforms enacted by the president since 2000, when the government oversaw the often violent eviction of white farmers. Many farms are underutilised, and the government has vowed to hold an audit to ensure agriculture land is put into production. Kasukuwere said at least 16,500 cattle have died in Zimbabwe, while as much as 75% of crops have been abandoned in the worst-hit areas.
 “The April [2015] harvest in Zimbabwe was 50% lower than the previous year,” said David Orr, spokesman for the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP). “With the drought continuing, it looks like the lean season is going to continue beyond the harvest time this year. The number of food-insecure people is likely to rise and continue rising.”
Last month, the WFP said 14 million people across southern Africa faced going hungry due to the prolonged drought, with the cost of maize – the regional staple – in Malawi 73% higher than average. South Africa has recorded its worst drought since records began more than a century ago, and will have to import half its average maize crop.