Citizens in Action Southern Africa (CIASA) joins the rest of the Africa to commemorate Africa day which is celebrated annually on the 25th of May commemorating the founding of the organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, the forerunner to the African Union (AU). The day gives an opportunity to reflect on the challenges and achievements of the governments and development partners of Africa. This year’s theme, “Strengthening resilience in nutrition and food security on the African continent: Strengthening agro- food systems, health and social protection systems for the acceleration of human, social and economic capital development” gives governments and development partners an opportunity to track and strengthen continental commitment to end malnutrition in all its forms and to further improve food security.
It should be noted that successive crop failures and poor harvests are taking a toll on agriculture production and food prices are soaring in Zimbabwe in particular and Africa in general. In the recent growing season, parts of the global south experienced lowest rainfall. Zimbabwe in particular is still suffering severely from the devastating effects of Cyclone Idai which came near time of harvesting in March and April 2019. Government, stakeholders, partners and the NGO sector have made efforts to improve food security and provide solutions to hunger and starvation problems. Development partners have launched emergency responses to a number of African countries to help feed millions of people including children. In 2015, 17 sustainable development goals which are a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all were launched by the UN and African countries have responded to this urgent call. Zimbabwe through the National Development Strategy (NDS) 1which seeks to put the country on a trajectory to become an upper middle income economy by 2030, is focusing on raising farm output and productivity especially by smallholder farmers to ensure food and nutrition security.
More so, food security symposiums have been launched and conducted and are still being launched to try and address food insecurity in Africa but nothing concrete has been established so far. These efforts have not adequately addressed hunger problems and improve food security hence it is high time for governments and development partners to work towards finding sustainable solutions to improving food security in Africa. It is of paramount importance to note that sustainable solutions to improving food security can be found and implemented successfully through involving communities that are facing hunger problems. Governments and development partners must consider key issues, challenges and opportunities related to food security and nutrition on the African continent. Assessment of the current state of nutrition and how to accelerate progress on nutrition is key also in addressing food insecurity in the global south.
//ENDS://
