The United Nations (UN) has warned that up to 60% of Zimbabweans are unable to meet their basic food needs.
However, this food shortage was not due to a natural disaster but was man-made.
Speaking in Harare, UN official Hilal Elver said: ‘The people of Zimbabwe are slowly getting to a point of suffering a man-made starvation.’ She also said that Zimbabwe was one of the world’s most highly insecure states in terms of access to food.
Poor harvests in the country have been compounded by an economic crisis, with inflation nearing 500%.
According to Elver, by the end of the year up to eight million people could be facing food shortages, primarily in rural areas.
Elver identified economic and financial issues, an erratic climate, and political instability as the key factors in the food crisis facing our northern neighbour.