Southern Africa grappling with hunger as Zimbabwe declares drought national disaster

President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared Zimbabwe’s drought a national disaster on Wednesday, stressing the country needs over $2 billion in aid to help millions facing hunger, Reuters reported.

Mnangagwa’s announcement follows similar statements by Zambia and Malawi due to the El Nino-induced drought in southern Africa, the source mentioned.

More than 2.7 million people in Zimbabwe will go hungry this year, with 80% of the country receiving poor rains, officials have warned.

According to Mnangagwa, the government plans to prioritize winter cropping and work with the private sector to import grains.

The drought has led to crop failure in most provinces since November, prompting humanitarian agencies to call for more aid. The crisis has also affected Botswana, Angola, Mozambique, and Madagascar.