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Thandeka Moyo-Ndlovu, Senior Reporter
IN a bid to address growing food insecurity among vulnerable families, Tshitshi villagers in Mangwe district have established a Isiphala Senkosi project.

The initiative will see the elderly, child headed families, orphans and other vulnerable villagers receiving food from the Chief’s granary.

Ideally under the concept which has been adopted by many districts across Zimbabwe, a chief allocates land which is tilled by the community and the harvest from the land is kept at the chief’s homestead to feed the needy.
Isiphala Senkosi (Chief’s Granary/Zunde ramambo) is founded on Ubuntu whereby people offer free labour to produce for the needy in their community.

The chief is then given the responsiblity to distribute the food to the vulnerable members of the community when they runout of food.
The usual beneficiaries of Isiphala Senkosi are the elderly, child headed families, the disabled and the terminally ill.

Food insecurity in the Tshitshi community is worsened by poor rainfall hence the decision by villagers to ensure those who cannot harvest enough are assisted.

To start the Isiphala Senkosi villagers harvested 36 bags of sorghum and millet.
Tshitshi community has five villages and all contributed to the establishment of the Chief’s communal granary for the needy.

Chief Tshitshi last week commended his subjects for initiating the Isiphala Senkosi which is now helping to feed the needy who are also benefiting from the nutritional gardens in the area.

He also applauded traditional leaders and councillors for coming up with the idea which he said will address food insecurity for vulnerable families.

“Our traditional leaders came up with this commendable initiative of Isiphala Senkosi which will now guarantee food to the vulnerable families,” said Chief Tshitshi.

Ward 4 Councillor Sindisiwe Nleya said many households had been left food insecure after the drought relief programme was suspended in many districts due to Covid-19.

“We decided to come together and launch Isiphala Senkosi in our community to assist the needy,” said Clr Nleya.
She said the project is ongoing and the community leaders will continue identifying those in need.

Mangwe district development officer Ms Rorisang Makhurane said it was the duty of communities to ensure the needy are assisted.-@thamamoe