'Zim faces major food shortage'

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Harare - Zimbabwe will fall 1.3 million tons short of its food needs this year, the main opposition warned on Monday, as government said crops in one region has been written off.

The southern African country requires two million tons of the staple corn grain, but production this year is predicted at 700 000 tons, said the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) secretary for agriculture Renson Gasela.

"This gives a shortfall of 1.3 million tons," said Gasela.

The government has meantime said drought "is so severe that there has been 95% crop failure" in western Matabeleland South province, according to a report cited by The Herald newspaper.

"By March next year, the food shortage and starvation will be at its worst," said Gasela.

Last week agriculture minister Rugare Gumbo told state television that government had officially declared 2007 a drought year to allow it to take emergency measures to avert starvation.

Saddled with economic crisis

The measures could include releasing funds to import food and possibly appeal for external aid. But there has been no appeal yet.

Finance minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi had earlier told parliament that the country was planning to import about 400 000 tons of maize to make up for a possible food shortfall.

Gasela asked foreign donors to "come forward and save the lives of many innocent people from death at the hands of this uncaring government".

Gumbo said the worst-hit provinces are Matebeleland in the west, Masvingo in the south and Lower Midlands in the centre of the country.

The country is already saddled with economic crisis characterised by a four-digit rate of inflation, unemployment of about 80% and chronic shortages of basic foodstuffs like cooking oil, sugar and fuel.

Poor families often resort to skipping meals.

- SAPA