Assessment of the Impact of Cyclone Eline (February 2000) on the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sector in

02. – 12 April 2000

Chirumhanzu

Bulilimamangwe Mberengwa Mwenezi

By

Agritex-NEWU-Ministry of Agriculture of Zimbabwe

USAID/Famine Early Warning System

World Food Programme Zimbabwe

FAO/Sub-Regional Office for Southern and East Africa Acknowledgement

All findings and results in the report reflected are discussed and agreed on amongst the team members of the two teams conducting the mission. We would like to thank all staff members of government institutions, NGOs and other organizations on provincial level who supported us with valuable information and guidance during the assessment. Last but not least we would like to thank all the affected people and households who reported patiently on losses and their view of the situation.

The mission was funded by the FAO Sub-Regional Office for Southern and Eastern Africa and supported by USAID / FEWS and WFP who supported the mission by funding their own staff members.

1 TABLE OF CONTENT 1. INTRODUCTION ______5 2. OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSESSMENT ______6 3. METHODOLOGY ______7 4. BACKGROUND AND GENERAL INFORMATION ______8 4.1 Agro-ecological Zones (Natural Regions)______8 4.2 Population ______11 5. SUMMARY OF NATIONAL FINDINGS ______13 5.1 Dryland crop situation and damages ______13 5.2 Livestock ______16 5.3 Food Security______16 5.4 Forestry and Natural resources ______18 5.5 Infrastructure Damages ______18 5.6 Irrigation schemes and water resources ______19 5.7 Early Warning ______20 5.8 Recommendations ______21 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FINDINGS IN THE PROVINCES AND DISTRICTS VISITED ______23 6. Manicaland and Midlands ______23 6.1 Crop situation and damages ______23 6.2 Livestock______27 6.3 Irrigation and water resources ______31 6.4 Natural Resources and Forestry ______39 6.5 Livelihoods ______40 6.6 Household Food Security and Nutrition______42 6.7 Health Trend Implications for Nutrition and Water supply ______56 6.8 Markets and prices______58 6.9 Socio-economic Effects ______59 6.10 Conlusions for Manicaland and Midlands______62 6.11 Recommendations For Manicaland and Midlands ______63 7 AND SOUTH ______65 7.1 MASVINGO ______65 7.2 ______68 7.3 ______73 7.4 MATEBELELAND SOUTH PROVINCE ______77 7.5 (Plumtree)______77 7.6 BEITBRIDGE DISTRICT______82

2 LIST OF TABLES

Table 4.1: Distribution of land over agro-ecological zones ...... 9 Table 4.2: Affected population per district ...... 11 Table 4.3: Summary of Districts Visited ...... 12 Table 5.1: Contribution of affected districts to national dryland grain and cotton production...... 14 Table 5.2: Crop Production Areas Badly* Affected in Hectares ...... 14 Table 5.3: Production losses in affected areas ...... 15 Table 5.4: Communal Areas Animal Losses due to Cyclone Eline Effects ...... 16 Table 5.5: Coping Mechanisms for Areas Visited...... 17 Table 5.6: No of irrigation schemes affected by the floods ...... 19 Table 5.7: Dams damaged in Manicaland and ...... 20 Table 6.1.1: Estimated crop production losses in the smallholder farming sector ...... 23 Table 6.1.2: Percentage of total cropped area that was affected by the cyclone...... 24 Table 6.1.3: Estimated crop production losses due to cyclone effects...... 24 Table 6.1.4: Estimated crop production losses due to cyclone effects...... 25 Table 6.1.5: Estimated reduction in crop production due cyclone effects...... 26 Table 6.2.1: Average livestock selling prices (US$)...... 28 Table 6.2.2: Livestock losses in Manicaland...... 28 Table 6.2.3: Livestock losses in Midlands ...... 28 Table 6.2.4: Infrastructure damaged ...... 29 Table 6.2.5: Impact on livestock and household...... 30 Table 6.3.1: Details of irrigation schemes damaged in ...... 33 Table 6.3.2: Damaged small earth dams in Manicaland province ...... 35 Table 6.3.3: Crop damages in irrigation schemes...... 36 Table 6.3.4: Details of irrigation schemes damaged in Midlands province...... 37 Table 6.3.5: Details of dams damaged in Midlands province ...... 38 Table 6.4.1: Estimate of the total ha damaged for the two districts...... 39 Table 6.5.1: Crop Production in Districts ...... 41 Table 6.5.2: Sources of Income ...... 41 Table 6.6.1: The number of granaries destroyed per ward...... 42 Table 6.6.2: Coping mechanisms in some of the affected areas ...... 49 Table 6.7.1: Occurrence of diarrhoea and in Chipinge and Chimanimani...... 56 Table 6.7.2: Percentage of wasted children in most affected wards in Chipinge...... 57 Table 6.7.3: Percentage of wasted children in Midlands ...... 58 Table 6.8.1: Summary of types of food items sold and their prices in wards visited...... 58 Table 6.9.1: Extent of Damages in Mberengwa and Mvuma...... 61 Table 6.9.2: Nature of Infrastructure Damages...... 61 Table 7.1.1: Hectarage and production per crop per District and the Province before floods ...... 66 Table 7.1.2: Percentage of crop hectarage to Provincial cropped area ...... 66 Table 7.1.3: Crop hectarage affected (washed away & waterlogged) per crop per District ...... 67 Table 7.1.4: Provincial hectarage and % of waterlogged/washed-away per crop and crop area ... 67 Table 7.1.5: Estimated Production per crop per District and the Province after floods ...... 68 Table 7.2.1: Affected Wards and villages in Chiredzi district ...... 69 Table 7.2.2: Affected households and crop areas...... 69 Table 7.2.3: Damages to Irrigation Schemes ...... 70 Table 7.3.1: Population in Mwenezi district and affected people...... 73 Table 7.3.2: Crop damages and loss in yields ...... 74 Table 7.3.3: The livestock in Mwenezi district ...... 75 Table 7.4.1: Summary of affected people in Matabeleland South ...... 77 Table 7.4.2: Summary of Livestock and Granary Losses...... 77 Table 7.5.1: Summary of affected population ...... 78 Table 7.6.1: Summary of Affected People in Beitbridge...... 83 Table 7.6.2: Summary of Livestock Affected in ...... 84 Table 7.6.3: Summary of NGO priority List in accordance with wards ...... 85

3 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

CC Christian Care CFU Commercial Farmers Union CPU Civil Protection Unit DWD Department of Water Development EFZ Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation FEWS Famine Early Warning System GLS Grey Leafy Spot GOZ Government of Zimbabwe LDS Lutheran Development Service LTD Livestock Development Trust NCD New Castle Diseases NEWU National Early Warning Unit PSIP Public Sector Investment Programme RRA Rapid Rural Appraisal SAFR Sub-regional office for Southern and Eastern Africa UN United Nations UNDMT United Nation Disaster Management Team WFP World Food Programme WV WorldVision ZFU Zimbabwe Farmers Union

4 1. INTRODUCTION

From 23 –25 February 2000 Cyclone Eline hit the eastern and southern parts of Zimbabwe. As a result of the cyclone and preceding rainfall these areas received well above normal rainfall for the period. This resulted in extensive damage due to heavy rainfall, strong winds and subsequent flooding. The worst affected areas stretched along the border with from in the eastern districts of the country through Chimanimani Mountain range, the valley stretching to the Valley – along the border with and Botswana. The areas affected covers the districts of Mutare, Chimanimani and Chipinge in Manicaland Province; Chiredzi, Zaka and Mwenezi districts in ; , Beitbridge, Bulilimamangwe, , Plumtree and districts in Matabeleland South province and Mberengwa. , and Mvuma districts in Midlands Province.

Since the occurrence of the disaster there has been significant response in terms of information collection on the impact of the cyclone and provision of assistance from the Government, Local and International Agencies, Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), civil societies and the private sector. The Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ) on 25 February 2000 officially declared a state of disaster for the following four affected provinces: Manicaland, Matabeleland South, Midlands and Masvingo. The heads of the United Nations (UN) agencies in Zimbabwe met on 29 February 2000 to deliberate on the damages caused by the cyclone. As a follow up to this meeting, the UN send an assessment team from 1 to 4 March, 2000, to Manicaland Province one of the worst affected provinces. To further complement the efforts of government and other institutions the United Nations Disaster Management Team (UNDMT) sent a team to the field between 7 –21 March to specifically look at various issues in the affected areas. While the UN was coordinating NGOs and donors, the Department of Civil Protection Unit (CPU) under the Ministry of Local Government and National Housing was responsible for the coordination of aid distribution and information gathering in government. The CPU has structures both at provincial and district level. GOZ has also been working closely with the local UN Inter- Agency Disaster Management Team. A UN Inter Agency and NGO National appeal has been prepared and is being updated on a monthly basis. Soon after the cyclone, damage to the road infrastructure compounded by the acute national fuel shortage hampered data and information collection in the affected areas.

To further determine the medium and long term strategy to mitigate the impact of the disaster, a joint mission with specialists from the Department of Agricultural, Technical and Extension Services (AGRITEX), National Early Warning Unit (NEWU), Famine Early Warning Systems Project (FEWS), World Food Program (WFP) and Food and Agriculture Organization Sub-Regional Office for Southern and Eastern Africa (FAO/SAFR) went into the field from 02 – 12 April 2000 to assess and verify the damages and the most urgent needs with regard to the food, agriculture and natural resources sector. This report covers the findings and recommendations of this mission

5 Map 1: Rural District Councils and Provinces

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSESSMENT

The main objective of the joint AGRITEX, NEWU, FEWS WFP and FAO/SAFR mission was to carry out a detailed assessment of the flood damages on the food, agriculture and natural resources sector. A detailed assessment in the food and agricultural sector was necessary to determine the immediate, medium and long-term needs necessary for the recovery of the farming community. This assessment was complimentary to similar initiatives undertaken by government institutions, NGOs, civil society, private sector and teams from the respective UN agencies. The assessment will build on the on going UN assistance to the government in preparing an Emergency Appeal document aimed at formulating a long term recovery and rehabilitation plan.

The assessment looked at all aspects of the food, agriculture and natural resources sector. It covered losses to staple food, cash crops, food stocks and livestock production, losses of and/or damage to agricultural equipment and irrigation infrastructure, losses of assets and other sources of income (including off farm). The assessment also examined the impact of floods on food security and nutrition situation at community and household level.

The detailed terms of reference for the mission are attached in Appendix I

6 3. METHODOLOGY

The assessment was carried out by a multidisciplinary mission from 02 – 12 April 2000. The mission was composed of subject matter specialists from various local institutions. The mission was divided into two teams1. Team I visited Chiredzi and Mwenezi districts in Masvingo province; Beitbridge and Plumtree districts in Matabeleland South province. The AGRITEX Provincial Irrigation Specialist for each of the two provinces accompanied Team I in their visits and assisted in assessing damages on the irrigation and water resources sub sector. Team II visited: Chipinge and Chimanimani districts in Manicaland province and Mberengwa and Mvuma districts in Midlands province. The itineraries of the two teams are shown in Appendix V.

The assessment reviewed and analyzed all available secondary information on the impact of the Cyclone Eline on the food, agriculture and natural resources made available at national, provincial, district and ward level. During the visits, consultations using a rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) techniques were made with relevant government institutions, local authorities, farmers, NGOs, international organizations and the private sector as key informants (see Appendix II for checklist used). The RRA in some of the affected areas was used to verify some of the information, appreciate the conditions and damages. During the visits, discussions were carried out with some of the affected households. It is important to note that information collected from the farmer interviews are just examples and not representative of the whole provinces assessed. The list of people consulted by the mission in the different provinces is given in Appendix VI.

It should be noted that this assessment was done as an emergency in order to identify the urgent needs of the victims, hence only preliminary data and estimates of conditions was collected. The information for the food and agriculture sector will need to be continuously updated, as some areas affected were still not accessible due to damaged infrastructure like roads, bridges and telecommunication facilities. The quality of data collected by the mission reflects the situation at the time of data collection. The assessment did not in any way try to accurately quantify the household food security and nutrition conditions, hence figures presented in this report should be taken only as indicative.

1 Team I: J. Mupangwa, Livestock Specialist (AGRITEX); E. Vhurumuku, Food Security Specialist (FEWS); S. Denhere, Nutrionist/Food Security Specialist (WFP); O. Svubure, Agronomist (AGRITEX)

Team II: I. Tarakidzwa, Food Security Specialist (NEWU/Zimbabwe Meteorological Services); V. Mutikani, Agronomist (NEWU/AGRITEX); M. Chimowa, Livestock Specialist (AGRITEX); K. Mudima, Irrigation Specialist ( AGRITEX); M. Chimbira, Sociologist (AGRITEX); M. Lieberum, Nutrionist (FAO-SAFR); A. Graham, International Consultant - Emergency Operations (FAO/TCOR) 7 4. BACKGROUND AND GENERAL INFORMATION

4.1 Agro-ecological Zones (Natural Regions)

Zimbabwe is divided into five agro-ecological regions. Chipinge and Chimanimani in Manicaland province have all the five regions in varying sizes, while Mberengwa and Mvuma in Midlands province; Mwenezi and Chiredzi in Masvingo province have agro- ecological zones III to V. The six districts in Matabeleland South province are also made up of Natural Regions III to V. The main characteristics of the agro-ecological zones are given in Box I below.

Box I: Main Agro-ecological Regions in Zimbabwe.

Natural Region I: It is characterized by high altitude, cool temperatures with average annual temperatures normally below 15oC, and high, reliable rainfall of over 1 000 mm. It is intensively used for dairy farming, forestry, tea, coffee, fruit farming, vegetables and in the valleys, maize. 24% of the communal farmland falls in this region.

Natural Region II: It is intensively cropped farmland, which receives on average 700 – 1 000 mm of rainfall annually. Areas that fall within this region are ideal for rainfed agriculture with the main crops being maize, tobacco, vegetables, winter wheat and cotton. 22% of the communal farm areas falls in Natural Region II.

Natural Region III: Climatic conditions favor semi-intensive agriculture. Annual rainfall ranges from 650 to 800 mm, mostly in the form of infrequent heavy storms. Severe mid-season dry spells are common and, as a result, good farm management is required to retain moisture during the growing season. Rainfed cultivation of drought-resistant crops such as cotton, soya beans, pearl millet and sorghum is ideal. Water storage and irrigation are needed for other crops. It accounts for 43% of communal land.

Natural Region IV: This hot, lower -lying land, is subject to seasonal drought and has a mean annual rainfall of 450 to 650 mm with periodic seasonal droughts and severe dry spells during the rainy season. Suited to semi-intensive animal husbandry, it is marginal for rainfed maize cultivation. There is a high proportion (62%) of communal land.

Natural Region V: Without irrigation, this very hot, low-lying zone, with less than 450 mm annual rainfall, is suitable only for extensive animal husbandry. 45% is occupied by communal land.

Sources: Gore et al (eds.) 1992, Hopes 1996, Ministry of Lands: Agriculture and Rural Resettlement 1989

The agro-ecological zones generally determine the agro-economic activity and land use pattern. Most of the communal areas are in the drier natural regions, and given the poor resource base and the poor soils, agricultural production in these areas tend to be low under dryland conditions. Map 2 and Table 4.1 show the distribution of land over the five natural regions in the areas affected.

8 Map 2: Agro-ecological Zones of Zimbabwe

5

Mashonaland Central Mashonaland West 5 2A 5 3 Mashonaland East2A 2B 1 3 2A Matabeleland North Midlands 4 Manicaland1 2B Commercial Areas 3 1

Communal Areas Masvingo Matabeleland South Natinal Parks 5

Provincial Boundary

Agro-Ecological Zone (eg 2)

Table 4.1: Distribution of land over agro-ecological zones Natural Region I II III IV V Total Manicaland (ha) 680 560 63 842 745 818 835 124 810 261 3 135 605 (%) 21.7 2 23.7 26.6 25.8 100 Chipinge (ha) 165 795 21 359 40 953 128 145 183 051 539 303 (%) 30.7 4 7.6 23.8 33.9 100 Chimanimani (ha) 175 637 54 387 39 316 42 386 33 486 345 014 (%) 50.9 15.7 11.4 12.3 9.7 100 Midlands (ha) - - 2 587 786 1 861 078 467 736 4 916 600 (%) 52.6 37.8 9.5 100 Mberengwa (ha) - - 4 424.1 251 608.2 258 398.69 524 000 (%) - - 1 49 50 100 Mvuma (ha) - - 413 203 45 917 - 459 120 (%) - - 90 10 - 100 Masvingo (ha) - - 620 319 1 553 515 3 482 766 5 656 600 (%) 10.9 27.4 61.6 100 Matabeleland South (ha) 4 000 2 544 828 2 868 372 5 417 200 (%) 0.07 47 52.9 100 National Total (ha) 680 560 5 948 243 7 292 367 15 563 787 9 590 743 39 075 700 (%) 1.74 15.23 18.66 39.83 24.54 100 Source: Agritex

Agricultural potential for Chipinge and Chimanimani is diverse: ranging from semi-intensive to extensive animal husbandry, rainfed cultivation to intensive dairy farming, tea, coffee, fruit farming, vegetables, and in the valleys maize. In the remaining districts, the land has potential for semi-intensive to extensive animal husbandry supported by dryland crop production.

9 4.1.1 Soil Types

Most of the affected communal areas have granite derived sandy soils, which are inherently poor in nitrogen. Chipinge and Chimanimani have a mixture of soil types distributed over the districts. These soil types offer a range of agricultural potential. The highlands in Chimanimani and Chipinge, which are mainly in natural region I are characterized by deep loamy soils which are not easily eroded, while valleys which are mainly in natural regions IV and V have sand to sandy loams. Irrigation schemes have mainly sandy loams due to deposition. In most of Matabeleland South Midlands and Masvingo provinces, the predominant soil type is sand to sandy loams. The sands are strongly leached, with poor water holding capacity. The sandy loams are susceptible to water logging.

4.1.2 Climate

The altitude for Chimanimani and Chipinge districts is between 300 to 1 000 meters above sea level and all the agro-ecological regions can be found in these districts. Annual rainfall ranges between 450 mm to 1 000 mm depending on the natural region. Mvuma district is in agro-ecological region III with an annual rainfall of 650 to 800mm characterized by common mid -season dry spells. Mberengwa, Chiredzi, Mwenezi, Plumtree and Beitbridge districts are made up of agro- ecological regions IV to V. These are some of the arid districts in Zimbabwe where rainfall is low and erratic with a total annual mean of 450mm. However, the recorded average rainfall in these districts from mid November 1999 to April 2000 was 942mm which was well above normal. Areas such as Mvuma in natural region III also received rainfall well above 1000 mm in the 1999/2000 season. Map 3 shows the cumulative 1999/2000 rainfall totals and percentage of normal.

Map 3: Cumulative total and percentage of normal Rainfall: 01/10/99 to 01/04/2000

10 4.2 Population

On average, there are 6 villages in each ward in the affected areas. Each administrative village carries about 100 households. The household size differs among the affected areas. In Manicaland on average 6 people live in a household. In Midlands, Masvingo and Matabeleland South provinces, the average household size is about 7-8 members.

In a larger number of women (3496) were directly affected than men (2587). This was partly attributed to men seeking off farm employment and an increased mortality rate among men. In Matabeleland South province, the situation was similar because of a lot of cross border employment to South Africa and Botswana. Table 4.2 shows the affected population per district.

Table 4.2: Affected population per district PROVINCE DISTRICT POPULATION POPULATION TOTAL (Est.) AFFECTED (Est.) Masvingo Chiredzi 25818 4424 Mwenezi 131 936 5904 Matabeleland South Beitbridge 96451 46800 Bulilimamangwe 203 573 27489 Manicaland Chimanimani 143 588 6083 Chipinge 372 846 25 284 Midlands Mberengwa 217 300 86 916 Mvuma 86 767 15 000 National 10 412 548 Total for Affected Districts 1 278 279 217 900 Percent of national 12.3 2.1

11 4.2.1 Wards Affected by Floods

Overall, the cyclone had a devastating effect on infrastructure such as roads, bridges, irrigation schemes, dams, electricity and telephone lines in the districts declared as disaster areas by Government. The affected districts are; Beitbridge, Plumtree, Bulilimamangwe, Gwanda, Matopo, Umzingwane and Insiza districts in Matabeleland South province; Mwenezi and Chiredzi districts in Masvingo province, Chimanimani, Mutare, Mutasa and Chipinge districts in Manicaland province; and Mberengwa, , Zvishavane, Shurugwi and Mvuma districts in Midlands province. However, as far as impact on food security and agriculture is concerned, the cyclone had the greatest impact in Chiredzi, Beitbridge, Chipinge and Chimanimani districts. For the first three districts crop flooding, washing away and water logging was reported, with livestock being either drowned or washed away. In Chimanimani district, there was destruction of crops and timber by strong winds and rainfall.

In the remainder of the districts, the major damage was on infrastructure particularly homesteads. There was minimal damage to crops and this was mainly through water logging and excessive leaching. Table 4.3 summarizes the districts and wards, which were affected by the cyclone and were visited by the assessment team. Table 4.0.3: Summary of Districts Visited PROVINCE DISTRICT COMMUNAL AREAS WARDS MAJOR EFFECT Masvingo Chiredzi Sengwe 15, 13 and 14 a) Crop wash away b) Damage to irrigation infrastructure c) Direct Livestock Losses Mwenezi Maranda 9, 11 and 12 a) Water logging b) Indirect Livestock Losses 1 1, 3 and 4 a) Water logging b) Indirect Livestock Losses Matabeleland Beitbridge 1 a) Crop wash away South Mtetengwe 4, 5 and 6 b) Flooding of crops and rotting Diti 2 and 3 c) Waterlogging 8 d) Damage to irrigation infrastructure River Ranch 14 e) Direct Livestock Losses Resettlement Bulilimamangwe Ramakwebana a) Water logging Maphoengs b) Indirect Livestock Losses Raditladi Semukwe Ngulube Dombodema Resettlement Scheme Manicaland Chipinge Musikavanhu 16 – 18 a) Crop wash away 20 – 30 b) Flooding of crops and rotting Chipinge ICA c) Waterlogging Chipangayi ICA d) Damage to irrigation infrastructure Sabi SSCFA e) Direct Livestock Losses Tamandayi SSCFA Chinyaduma SSCFA Chimanimani Nyanyadzi irrigation Ngorima A (NR I) a) Waterlogging Shinja Resettlement b) Damage to irrigation infrastructure (II/III) Ngorima B (NRI) c) In direct Livestock Losses Bumba 7A d) Damage to strong winds Bumba 7B Chakohwa Chikukwa 12 PROVINCE DISTRICT COMMUNAL AREAS WARDS MAJOR EFFECT Mhandarume Nyanyadzi (dry land) Midlands Mberengwa Mberengwa Mushandirapamwe a) Crop wash away Baradzanwa, Mataga b) Damage to irrigation infrastructure Mahlebadza, Chizungu c) In direct Livestock Losses Danga, Chebvute Bangkwe, Mataruse BI and BII Zvomukonde, Negove Wanezi Resettlement Mvuma Mvuma Mapirawana a) Water logging Chizhou b) Indirect Livestock Losses Tatonga Takawira Resettlement Charandura Chinyuni Mhende

5. SUMMARY OF NATIONAL FINDINGS

The severe weather conditions and subsequent flooding caused serious damage to the food and agriculture sector, the country’s infrastructure including roads, bridges and utility lines. The floods destroyed the livelihoods of a great number of people. The government’s estimate of the agriculture dependent people who were affected by the flooding is 250 000 in the four provinces. The UN team in the country estimated the number of people requiring emergency assistance for food, shelter and clothing as 96 000. This mission estimated the number of affected people who need assistance in the medium to long term as 217 900 in all the four provinces. This figure is a sum total of the visited districts.

5.1 Dryland crop situation and damages

Most of the dryland crops were affected by the cyclone by washing away and submergence of crops, root and stem lodging; water-logging and leaching of soil nutrients. Crops along riverbanks and in low-lying areas were affected most by flooding and water-logging while soil nutrient leaching was quite pronounced on the lighter sandy soils.

In all the affected provinces, the incessant rains due to the cyclone caused crop lodging, water logging and leaching of soil nutrients. This resulted in a reduction of crop yields by up to an estimated 60% in some areas. The continuously wet conditions also caused poor grain formation and hampered farm operations such as weeding, chemical spraying and harvesting. Incidences of Grey Leaf Spot (GLS) increased and it was the late planted maize crop that was most affected. Although the disease has always been observed in parts of Chimanimani district, this season it was observed in areas that do not usually experience GLS. Poor cotton lint quality, maize cob rots, tobacco barn rots, sprouting of groundnuts and other grains were some of the problems. The overall effect of the cyclone on the crops was either massive reductions in yields or complete crop losses. For households dependant on field crop production, income levels will definitely be lower than average.

Some households lost farm implements such as hoes and shovels to the floods. Significant soil erosion was experienced and conservation structures such as contour ridges and Vetivar grass strips, grown for soil conservation purposes, were destroyed. Some fields near riverbanks were washed away and siltation of rivers was quite significant. This is likely to cause seasonal flooding in subsequent years.

13 Tables 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 summarise information on the damages by the cyclone to the crop production sub sector.

Table 5.1: Contribution of affected districts to national dryland grain and cotton production for the area sector (based on the 1990’s average production levels). District % Contribution To National Production. Maize *Small Grains ** All Grain Cotton

Chipinge 0.9 1.0 1.4 2.6 Chimanimani 0.8 1.0 0.8 0.0 Mberengwa 1.4 6.0 0.9 0.0 Mvuma 1.2 0.9 1.1 0.0 Beitbridge 0.0 0.7 0.1 0.0 Bulilimamangwe 0.0 1.5 0.1 0.0 Chiredzi 0.2 5.2 0.7 0.0 Mwenezi 1.9 1.0 1.8 0.0 Total (all 8 districts) 6.4 17.3 6.9 2.6 Source: NEWU / FEWS * Small grains refer to sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet. **All grain refers to maize, sorghum and millets

Table 5.2: Crop Production Areas Badly* Affected in Hectares Maize Sorghum Millets Groundn S.Flower Cotton Beans Total uts Manicaland 7040 2208 719 45 5 4372 0 23 101 Chipinge 930 33 0 4.5 5 0 0 9,72.5 Chimanimani 6,110 2,175 719 0 0 4,372 0 13,376 Midlands 11956 787 3826 1612 486 1060 15 19442 Mvuma 5,054 15 550 722 215 32 15 6,603 Mberengwa 6,902 772 2,976 890 271 1,028 0 12,839 Masvingo 11973 8344 3373 4821 97 3709 0 32317 Chiredzi 4,173 4,744 373 445 97 869 0 10,701 Mwenezi 7,800 3,600 3,000 4,376 0 2,840 0 21,616 Mat. South 17634 12300 7947 0 0 0 0 37881 Beitbridge 15,120 12,300 7,947 0 0 0 0 35,367 Bulilimamangwe 2,514 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,514 Total: Most 48,603 19,139 15,865 6,478 234 9,375 15 122,116 Total: National 172,3611 48,865 43,673 34,906 3,475 34,014 6,766 344,060 Total National 935,727 112,082 157319 155,792 16,438 177,782 13,769 1,569,509 planted** % Most Flood 3.5 17,8 7.6 0.9 2.3 3.5 0 4.7 Affected Areas *Note that these figures give only the badly affected areas, either by complete wash aways or flooding or severe waterlogging. More details on the affected areas are in the district reports **Communal areas

14 Table 5.3: Production losses in affected areas District Crop type Total area (ha) Expected production Expected production Loss in % before cyclone after cyclone Chimanimani Maize 12764 22975 14040 39 Sorghum 3624 3624 1630 55 Pearlmillet 768 691 384 45 Cotton 124 223 124 45 Rapoko 178 160 89 45 Sunflower 277 166 831 50 Groundnut 499 598 399 33 Edible 810 810 486 40 beans Chipinge Maize 24479 36718 24479 33 Sorghum 8703 8703 4351 50 Mhunga 2897 2897 1448 50 Sunflower 525 525 210 60 Cotton 17697 35394 17697 50 Burley 21 42 21 50 Tobacco Mberengwa Maize 23008 41414 23008 40 Sorghum 3089 4633 1853 60 Mhunga 5343 4808 2137 56 Rapoko 5716 5716 4000 30 Groundnut 8904 13356 8013 40 Sunflower 457 365 182 50 Cotton 2055 2466 1644 34 Mvuma Maize 12634 8843 5033 43 Mhunga 230 69 46 33 Sorghum 42 17 12 25 Rapoko 1527 610 458 25 Groundnut 2888 2599 2021 22 Sunflower 539 269 161 40 Edible 41 12 8 32 beans Cotton 107 107 75 33 Mwenezi Maize 14213 8527 4263 50 Sorghum 12300 6150 2706 44 Mhunga 10234 4298 1023 24 Rapoko 436 152 43 28 Groundnut 7957 10741 1050 10 Cotton 5153 * 3607 * Sunflower 1433 * * * Beans 450 135 * * Bulilimamangwe** Maize 8015 6354 3006 53 Sorghum 7169 3695 2082 44 Mhunga 8783 5233 2887 45 Groundnut 1283 473 342 28 s Edible 493 126 77 39 Beans Beitbridge* Chiredzi Maize 108252 75591 37841 50 Sorghum 14015 8409 5232 38 Mhunga 802 64 31 52 Rapoko 128 76.8 28 64 Groundnut 1278 694.8 127 82 s * Data not available ** Data from most affected Agritex working zones only

15 5.2 Livestock

Over 2,000 cattle, 13,000 goats and sheep, 16,000 chickens, ducks and turkeys and 1,000 donkeys were either washed away or died due to the effects of the cyclone in all provinces (see Table 5.4 below). The affected people had not anticipated the magnitude of the floods and did not have adequate time to move their animals to higher ground. The classes of livestock affected were cattle, goats, donkeys, sheep, pigs and poultry. Total livestock losses in Manicaland and Midlands amounted to about US$95,500. The estimated livestock losses in Masvingo and Matabeleland South were estimated at US$658,000, giving the estimated livestock loss of US$753,500. Though the losses seem to be small compared to the district and national totals, in most cases the affected household lost all their livestock.

Table 5.4: Communal Areas Animal Losses due to Cyclone Eline Effects PROVINCE DISTRICT CATTLE (Estimate) SHEEP/GOATS (est.) DONKEYS (est.) FOWLS TOTAL DEATHS TOTAL DEATHS TOTAL DEATHS DEATHS Masvingo Chiredzi 49,122 12 120,925 118 3,552 2 518 Mwenezi 34,289 13 48,309 209 7,631 38 167 Mat. South Beitbridge 60,214 222 139,289 5,636 19,215 165 10,299 Bulilimamangwe 81,905 20 224,366 1,461 40,688 150 Matobo 28,932 3 100,309 30 16,329 0 Umzingwane 27,132 8 19,029 20 3,164 4 Gwanda 135,660 1,500 421,863 2,922 58,864 597 Insiza 40,510 163 49,231 1,286 6,462 102 Manicaland Chipinge 44,366 85 56,414 262 3,138 7 342 Chimanimani 21,243 189 28,312 1,156 824 78 4,994 Midlands Mberengwa 80,580 24 54,893 49 10,941 37 Total Affected Areas 603,953 2,239 1,262,940 13,149 170,808 1,180 16,320 Estimated National Total 3,494,744 0.4% 3,167,705 1.0% 337,114 0.7%

Livestock infrastructure, including kraals, dip tanks, cattle fences and holding pens was damaged. This damage was estimated at US$ 29 000 for Manicaland and Midlands provinces. In all the four affected provinces, the extended rainy season increased incidences of tick-borne diseases such as Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Cowdriosis and Theileriosis. Other diseases reported were Ephemeral fever, Foot-rot, Lumpy Skin Disease, Black leg and Anthrax. The common poultry diseases were Newcastle and Fowlpox.

On the positive side, the floods brought about lush and good grazing to the affected areas. However, grazing riparian to flooded rivers was washed away.

5.3 Food Security

Food Security is a condition in which a population has physical, social and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food over a given period to meet dietary needs and preferences for an active and healthy life. A food-secure population can meet its consumption needs in the given consumption period using income derived from strategies that do not compromise future food security. From this definition, food security in the affected areas ranges from severe for some households who lost their crops, livestock and coping mechanisms to good were the floods did not damage the major coping mechanisms. Following the floods, some households lost all their grain stocks, livestock and crops due to wash aways, such households heavily depended on relief from NGOs and food handouts from friends and relatives. The immediate threat to food insecurity was however avoided as NGOs such as Red Cross, World Vision, Catholic Relief Services, Freedom from Hunger Campaign, ORAP and Lutheran World Federation, the Private sector and Government distributed the immediate requirements in form of food and tents to the victims. However, 16 from May 2000 when the food distribution exercise comes to an end, the affected households are likely to be food insecure and targeting of any relief efforts should be towards this group.

5.3.2 Coping Mechanism

Generally, most of the affected areas do not rely entirely on crop production for their livelihoods, as they do not produce enough food for own consumption even in good rainfall seasons. There are various coping mechanisms in each district as indicated on Table 5.5 below. Table 5.5: Coping Mechanisms for Areas Visited PROVINCE Area visited COPING STRATEGY MANICALAND Chimanimani · Hiring out of labor to Timber estates and to households with a larger asset base, · Remittances, · Selling fruits, · Vegetable Gardens, · Selling livestock · Reduction of number of meals per day. Chipinge · Selling livestock, · Hiring out of labor to ARDA Estates and to households with a large asset base, · Remittances · Reduction of number of meals per day MASVINGO Mwenezi · Selling of livestock · Hiring out labour to other farmers for cotton picking and on large-scale commercial farming area. · Income from cotton and irrigation crops Chiredzi · Selling of livestock · Hiring out labour to other farmers for cotton picking and on large-scale commercial farming area. · Reduction of number of meals per day MATEBELALAND SOUTH Beitbridge · Selling livestock, · Hiring out of labor to farms in South Africa and within Zimbabwe · Remittances · Reduction of number of meals per day Bulilimamangwe · Selling livestock, · Hiring out of labor to ARDA Estates and to Botswana and South Africa · Remittances · Sale of Mopani worms · Reduction of number of meals per day MIDLANDS Mberengwa · Moving in with relatives or other community members. · Farmers assisting each other by identifying the needs of the most affected and providing help, · Hiring out of labor to households with a large asset base, · Remittances Mvuma · Hiring out of labor to households with a large asset base, · Remittances, · Reduction of number of meals per day.

17 5.3.2 General levels of threats to the households food security situation observed

Ø Loss of crops by floods; complete wash ‘aways’, water logging and nutrient leaching Ø Damage to crops by pests Ø Loss of granaries causing food stock losses and post harvest losses and losses due to poor storage facilities Ø Loss of livestock and therefore loss of coping mechanism based on livestock sales. Ø Large-scale commercial farms have also been affected reducing the chances of hiring out labor into these farms. Ø Loss of income from fruit sales due to damage to infrastructure. Ø High vegetable and food prices making affordability impossible. Ø Reduced market prices of livestock due to depressed markets and few buyers Ø Loss of homes and toilets. Ø Reduced harvest of mopani worms due to too much rains and hence reduced earnings Ø Deportation of people illegally crossing into South Africa has threatened remittances from this source.

5.4 Forestry and Natural resources

The major damage on forestry occurred in Manicaland province where an estimated 3340 hectares timber area was damaged. The total cost for this damage was put at around US$10 million. According to the Timber Producers Association, the damage to timber by the cyclone in the whole Manicaland province was equivalent to a year’s harvest. In Chimanimani district, the damage was uprooting of trees with several plantations being flattened. In , mainly young trees were destroyed. In the two districts access roads for timber harvesting and transportation were rendered inaccessible and bridges were either damaged or washed away. There was also power failure, which led to the closure of sawmills. In Beitbridge district, trees along riverbanks were uprooted, while in Masvingo and Midlands provinces no damage to the forestry industry was reported.

Significant soil erosion was experienced in some areas. This resulted in the washing away of topsoil and formation of gullies on landscapes. Conservation structures such as contour ridges and Vetivar grass strips were destroyed. Fields near rivers were eroded resulting in the siltation of rivers. Quantities and cost estimates on the damages to conservation structures were difficult to come up with at the time of assessment.

5.5 Infrastructure Damages

The cyclone destroyed infrastructure in the provinces. The destruction was on bridges, roads, clinics, schools, homesteads, granaries, telecommunications lines, power lines, and livestock infrastructure, dams and irrigation infrastructure.

The damage to roads and bridges had a major socio economic impact in all four affected provinces. Access to markets both for inputs and outputs were denied due to the damaged roads. Employment and access to clinics and schools by the people was also affected either because the access roads were damaged or the actual schools and clinics were destroyed. There was lack of equipment and drugs in health centres and teaching aids in schools.

18 Livestock infrastructure, which included kraals, dip tanks cattle fences and holding pens were damaged in all four provinces. About 4 kilometers of cattle fencing was damaged in Manicaland province. Approximately 2 km was in Chimanimani and the remainder in Chipinge district. Six dip tanks were reported damaged in Midlands province all dip tanks being located in . The numbers of different livestock infrastructure damaged in Masvingo and Matabeleland South provinces were not available at the time of assessment.

5.6 Irrigation schemes and water resources

In the four provinces Manicaland, Midlands, Masvingo and Matabeleland South, Cyclone Eline and the subsequent flooding damaged 33 irrigation schemes covering a total area of 4230ha. The extent of damage varied from scheme to scheme. The damage to the irrigation schemes was two fold, damage was done to irrigation infrastructure (dams, weirs, intake structures, pumping stations, canals, distribution structures, pipes and irrigation plots) and damage was also done to crops in irrigation schemes either through complete erosion or water logging and excessive leaching. Table 5.6 summarises the damage to irrigation schemes on a district by district basis. The affected irrigation schemes are not operational either in whole or in part due to damaged infrastructure. Rehabilitation of the damaged irrigation schemes will require an estimated US$ 2 042 047. This cost assumes that farmers will contribute their unskilled labour and will supply all locally available materials like river sand and aggregates for any concrete works. AGRITEX and DWD will offer their technical services during rehabilitation as part of the government’s contribution. Table 5.6: No of irrigation schemes affected by the floods Province District No. of Area No. of Estimated cost of irrigation affected plot rehabilitation schemes (ha) holders US$ damaged Mutare 1 46 46 25 894 Manicaland Chimanimani 3 825 759 420 584 Chipinge 4 1648 1512 412 069 2 525 912 7 500 Mberengwa 1 64 128 40 000 Midlands Mvuma 1 92 92 6 000 Zvishavane 1 5 25 4 000 Gweru 2 117 420 83 000 Masvingo Chiredzi 10 443 1833 93 000 Zaka 2 80 160 50 000 Matabeleland Beitbridge 6 385 493 900 000 South TOTAL 33 4230 6380 2 042 047

In Manicaland province, 13 dams were reported damaged while in Midlands province 15 dams were damaged. Information on the damages to dams in Masvingo and Matabeleland provinces was not available at the time of assessment. Table 5.7 summarises the dams damaged in Manicaland and Midlands.

Damage to small earth dams varied from complete wash away, breaching of the dam wall and complete siltation. The cost of rehabilitation for the dams in Manicaland and Midlands is estimated to be US$ 474 500 excluding the costs of repairing Mundi Mataga dam in Midlands. Information obtained from Department of Water Development (DWD) indicate that the large Mundi Mataga dam will require about US$ 125 0000 for repairs

19 Table 5.7: Dams damaged in Manicaland and Midlands province Province District No. of dams Estimated cost of damaged rehabilitation US$ Manicaland Chimanimani 11 242 000 Chipinge 2 44 000 Mberengwa 1* 12 500 000 Midlands Mberengwa 8 119 500 Mvuma 6 69 000 TOTAL 12 974 500 *: Large dam (Monti Mataga)

5.7 Early Warning

Seasonal forecast information issued in December 1999, in Harare, predicted high probabilities of normal to above-normal rainfall conditions over much of southern Africa (including Zimbabwe) during the period January - March 2000. This turned out to be true for most parts of Zimbabwe as well as for other countries. During the course of the season the Zimbabwe Meteorological Services continued to issue out monthly and ten-day rainfall updates. On the 15th February 2000, the Zimbabwe Meteorological Services announced the movement of the tropical Cyclone Eline from the east of Madagascar into the Mozambique channel. It warned of the possibility of flooding along the and the southeastern areas of the country. The information was disseminated through newspapers, the radio, and television and in meetings held with the Civil Protection Unit in Harare.

Responses regarding Early Warning Information concerning the Tropical Cyclone Eline obtained from the interviewees in all eight districts indicated that the main recipients of the information were: · Civil Protection Unit (CPU) · Agricultural Extension Services (Agritex) · Farmer organizations (ZFU, CFU etc) · Commercial and communal farmers

The interviewees received the early warning information through either the Radio, Television, Newspapers, verbal discussions with others. In Beitbridge district pamphlets concerning the cyclone were distributed in selected wards, just one or two days before the onset of the cyclone. In Mwenezi and Bulilimamangwe no early warning messages were distributed. The majority of the recipients did not know what measures to put in place and did not take the warning seriously. The concept of a “Cyclone” was very abstract since none of the authorities and farmers had experienced this type of disaster before.

However, some National Parks in the South made use of the information and moved game animals from low-lying areas to higher ground. Some commercial farmers moved their assets to safe places. Most of the communal farmers in Manicaland did not receive the information and were caught unaware. Those communal farmers who received the information did not know what to do and were advised to remain in doors.

20 Useful Early Warning information should be accompanied by optional strategic plans and actions to guide people’s responses. Some of the problems that contributed to the lack of preparedness are:

1. Information dissemination lacked coverage and adequate advice. 2. Possible multiple option response mechanisms were not well known. 3. Inadequate flood mitigation measures. 4. Timeliness of advice and understanding of risks. 5. Inappropriate reaction measures. 6. Lack of contingency arrangements.

5.8 Recommendations

In view of the findings of the mission the following overall recommendations can be given. These can be divided into immediate and medium to long term recommendations.

5.8.1 Immediate recommendations

· Food relief programs should be put in place until the next harvest. Food for work programmes are recommended as measures to provide food aid and reconstruct infrastructure must be implemented in the affected areas; · Maize seed is required by farmers to plant in flood plains before June such as along the Limpopo River as water recedes to normal flow in Ward 13 in Chiredzi district; · Provide households with timber, cement blocks and asbestos roofing sheets to minimise deforestation; · The repair of roads, bridges and other infrastructure must be given high priority to facilitate the access of affected population to social services like clinics and schools and marketing of remaining crops and fruits in particular in the districts of Chipinge and Chimanimani; · Provide the affected households with agricultural inputs for the next 2000/2201 growing season to enable their quick agricultural recovery. The timeliness of delivery, proper targeting of the beneficiaries and the appropriateness of the packs to the agro- ecological regions affected must be ensured. AGRITEX and ZFU have experience in this field and they are capable of assisting in the distribution of the packs; · In those areas like Chipinge and Chimanimani where fruit tress were destroyed provision of young fruit trees adapted to the affected areas; · Provision of livestock drugs and vaccines to the affected areas to combat the increased incidence of diseases which have been brought about by the excessive rains; · For those farmers already re-building their homesteads they must be advised against settling or cropping in risky low lying areas and riverbanks; · Reconstruction of the damaged irrigation schemes, small earth dams and nutritional gardens, which require minor repairs, to enable the communities to start farming for winter and summer crops to improve their food security nutritional situation; · The food security, nutritional status and health in the affected areas need to be closely monitored as it is expected to deteriorate in the coming month. The development of a community based surveillance should be considered and training to community health workers and community members should be provided; · Awareness campaigns for malaria, cholera diarrhoea in the flooded areas should be held to avoid the spread of these diseases;

21 5.8.2 Medium to long term recommendations

· There is need for the government to establish disaster preparedness and management structures prepared to handle natural disasters like floods at the community level. The CPU has structures at provincial and district levels but there is nothing at farmer or ward level; · Training programmes and multilevel public information systems must be formulated and implemented by the relevant authorities to target people at all levels on topics like disaster roundup and preparedness, risks of settling and farming in risky areas, flood mitigation, monitoring and management; · Rehabilitation of irrigation schemes and dams with major damages and exploration of new areas for new schemes; · Elaborate new technologies on water harvesting and conservation which might in some cases be more appropriate and cheaper to install; · Reconstruction and introduction of improved food storage facilities (granaries) must be implemented; · Livestock restocking programmes concentrating on cattle, donkeys, goats and sheep must be intensified to increase the livestock availability in the affected provinces. · Reconstruction of damaged livestock infrastructure like dips, fencing and holding pens. · Encourage the growing, processing and consumption of small grains like sorghum and millet, which are less prone to water logging in comparison to maize. · Asses the possibilities of introducing small scale fruit processing and preservation technologies in some of the fruit producing areas like Chipinge and Chimanimani. The processing and preservation will add value to the products and farmers are able to increase their income. This will support them o cover up for the losses they experienced during and after the floods.

22 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FINDINGS IN THE PROVINCES AND DISTRICTS VISITED

6. MANICALAND AND MIDLANDS

6.1 CROP SITUATION AND DAMAGES

6.1.1. MANICALAND PROVINCE

While the worst affected districts in this province were Chipinge and Chimanimani, had notable crop losses. The major effects in Mutare were water logging and lodging of crops. An estimated 123 households had their fields badly affected. Approximately 930 hectares of maize, 62 hectares of groundnuts, 9 hectares of tobacco and 70 hectares of sunflower were affected. About 13 000 tonnes of tobacco (flue cured and burley) were lost due to leaf drop as well as lack of curing facilities. The latter resulted from barn collapse and ripping off of barn roofs. (A number of barns collapsed in the Odzi area). Vegetable gardens within 30 metres of the streambeds were washed away including Food and Nutrition funded Chipendeke Nutrition Garden and Chengetai consolidated garden which is funded by Plan international. Fencing material worth about US$13 158 was destroyed.

Chimanimani District Extensive damage was done to both field and horticultural crops, affecting about 2 579 households. The nature of damage varied from complete wash away of fields and vegetable gardens along riverbanks, submerging and water-logging of crops in low-lying areas, lodging and soil nutrient leaching. Table 6.1.1 gives the estimated crop production losses in the district.

Land holding per household for the smallholder sector is 3 to 4 hectares. Fruits are the major “crop” in Agro-ecological region I, especially in the highlands and valley areas such as Rusitu and Cashel.

Approximately 10% of the district population reside in the valley areas. In non-valley areas of region I, some maize, groundnuts, rapoko, cowpeas and a few fruits are grown. Major crops grown in Regions II and III in order of importance are maize, groundnuts, rapoko, sorghum, pearl millet and some cotton, especially in resettlement areas. In regions IV and V, small grains (pearl millet and sorghum) dominate, followed by maize, groundnuts and cotton. Cowpeas are often inter-cropped with the major crops like maize.

Table 6.1.1: Estimated crop production losses in the smallholder farming sector Crop type Total Expected Expected Expected Expected % Producti cropped yield yield after production production production on loss area (ha) before cyclone before after loss (t) cyclone (t/ha) cyclone (t) cyclone (t) (t/ha) Maize 12 764 1.80 1.10 22 975 14 040 39 8 935 Sorghum 3 624 1.00 0.45 3 624 1 630 55 2 000 Pearl millet 768 0.90 0.50 691 384 45 307 Cotton 124 1.80 1.00 223 124 45 100 Rapoko 178 0.90 0.50 160 89 45 71 Sunflower 277 0.60 0.30 166 83 50 83 Groundnuts 499 1.20 0.80 598 399 33 200 Edible beans 810 1.00 0.60 810 486 40 324 Source: Agritex –Chimanimani district.

23 Chipinge district.

The nature of crop damage was similar to that of Chimanimani, but water-logging was more pronounced in Chipinge due to terrain differences (In Chimanimani the terrain is more sloppy). Tables 6.1.2 and 6.1.3 gives the estimated crop production losses in Chipinge district.

The low-lying areas along the Save valley were the most affected areas. According to Agritex district officers’ estimation, approximately 60% (about 59 446 households) of the households in the above listed areas, had their fields affected by floods.

Average land holding per household varies from area to area. In mountainous areas such as Samutsa, average land holding is 0.4 hectares whereas for non-mountainous areas it ranges from 1 to 2 hectares in the communal area farming sector. In one of the visited wards, ward 28 of Chinyamukwakwa area in Ndowoyo communal area, new settlers hold about 1.5 hectares whilst old settlers own 5 – 15 hectares of arable land. In this area cotton is the major crop followed by maize, groundnuts and bambara nuts, sorghum, sunflower, sugar beans and cowpeas. Sweet potatoes and okra are also grown to a significant extent. In Tamandayi maize and tea are the major crops whereas in Musikavanhu food crops grown in order of importance are sorghum, maize, groundnuts and mhunga. Cash crops grown in this area are sunflower and cotton

Table 6.1.2: Percentage of total cropped area that was affected by the cyclone. Type of crop Total cropped Area (ha) Affected Area (ha) % of affected area. Maize 24 479 3 671 10 Sorghum 8 703 1 305 15 Mhunga 2 897 432 10 Sunflower 525 78 15 Cotton 17 697 2 603 15 Burley tobacco 21 7 30 Total cropped area 54 322 8 096 15 Source: Agritex –Chipinge district

Table 6.1.3: Estimated crop production losses due to cyclone effects. Crop Total area Expected Expected Expected Expected % prodn loss cropped (ha) average yield avg. yield prodn prodn after due to before cyclone after cyclone before cyclone (t) cyclone (t/ha) (t/ha) cyclone (t) effects Maize 24479 1.5 1.0 36718.5 23008 33 Sorghum 8 703 1.0 0.5 8703 4351.5 50 Mhunga 2 897 1.0 0.5 2897 1448.5 50 Sunflower 525 1.0 0.4 525 210 60 Cotton 17 697 2.0 1.0 35394 17697 50 Burley 21 2.0 1.0 42 21 50 tobacco Source: Agritex –Chipinge district

Apart from field crops production of horticultural crops in both the highlands and valley areas of Manicaland, particularly Chimanimani districts were affected. Fruit drop and / or damage, uprooting of trees and wash-away of orchards and vegetable gardens were experienced. In Chipinge, for example avocado fruit drop was estimated at 50% damage to papaya (paw-paw) fruits at 70% and wash away of the Samutsa banana project plots at 50%.

24 6.1.2 MIDLANDS PROVINCE

The southern half of the province was more affected by the cyclone than the northern half. The southern half covers Mvuma, Mberengwa, and parts of Shurugwi and Zvishavane districts. , Gokwe and Gweru districts constitute the upper (northern) half, main effects on crops were water-logging, nutrient leaching and reduction in quality of produce especially grain and groundnuts.

Mberengwa district:

Major crops grown in the district are maize, sorghum, mhunga, rapoko, groundnuts, sunflower and cotton. Cotton is a relatively new crop in the district. Cultivated area holding per household for the communal area sector ranges from about 4.0 to 9.0 hectares. The average holding is 5.8 hectares.

Cyclone effects on crops in this district were mostly nutrient leaching and waterlogging. These effects were cumulative from substantial rains received since January. Heavy rains were also received during early February (Total average rainfall received for the season by mid April was 1000mm compared to the long-term average of 450-500 mm). The breaching of Mundi Mataga dam led to wash away of nearby fields and downstream fields. The size of fields washed away could not be readily established. Table 6.1.4 gives the crop damages in Mberengwa district. Table 6.1.4: Estimated crop production losses due to cyclone effects. Crop Area Expected Expected Estimated Estimated % planted average yield average yield production production Production (ha) before the after the before cyclone after cyclone loss. cyclone (t/ha) cyclone (t/ha) (t) (t) Maize 23 008 1.8 1 41 414.4 24 848.6 40 Sorghum 3 089 1.5 0.6 4 633.5 1 853.4 60 Mhunga 5 343 0.9 0.4 4 808.7 2 137.2 56 Rapoko 5 716 1 0.7 5 716.0 4 000.2 30 Groundnuts 8 904 1.5 0.9 13 356.0 8 013.6 40 Sunflower 457 0.8 0.4 365.6 182.8 50 Cotton 2 055 1.2 0.8 2 466.0 1 644 34 Source: Agritex-Mberengwa district

Grain production was affected most in the following wards: Chizungu, Baradzamwa, Bankwe, Chebvute, Danga, Mataruse B1 and B2, Muchembere, Mataga, Chingoma A and B, Mahlebadza, Mushandirapamwe, Zvomukonde, Negove and Wanezi resettlement area. Mushandirapamwe, Baradzamwa and Mahlebadza were the most affected while Zvemukonde and Negove were the least affected.

Mvuma District.

Water logging and soil nutrient leaching have been the major cyclone effects on crops and the late planted crops were more affected than the early planted ones. Table 13 gives the crop production losses in Mvuma district. Persistent rains and waterlogged conditions hampered field operations such as weeding, pest and disease control and harvesting. It should, however, be noted that cyclone effects cannot be easily separated from those of non- cyclone induced wet conditions. Quality of produce has also been adversely affected by the wet conditions as incidence of cob rots on maize, sprouting of groundnuts before lifting or during curing and sprouting of grains increased. Maize stalk-borer was a serious problem this season in Mvuma district.

25 The northern part of the district (Mvuma north) was most affected. This area covers Mapiravana, Chizhou, Tatonga and Takawira wards as well as Takawira resettlement area. Due to the inherently low nutrient status of the soils and limited use of fertilisers, yields are generally low and most households retain approximately 90% of their harvested maize. Most farmers retain groundnuts and rapoko and only sell after adding value to these products in the form of peanut butter and beer, respectively.

Table 6.1.5: Estimated reduction in crop production due cyclone effects Crop Type Area Expected Expected yield Expected Expected % planted yield after cyclone production before production production (ha) before (t/ha) cyclone (t) after loss cyclone cyclone (t) (t/ha) Maize 12 634 0.7 0.4 8 843.8 5033.60 43 Mhunga 230 0.3 0.2 69.0 46.00 33 Sorghum 42 0.4 0.3 16.8 12.60 25 Rapoko 1 527 0.4 0.3 610.0 458.10 25 Groundnuts 2 888 0.9 0.7 2 599.0 2021.60 22 Sunflower 539 0.5 0.3 269.0 161.40 40 Edible beans 41 0.3 0.2 12.0 8.2 32 Cotton 107 1.0 0.7 107.0 75.00 33 Source: Agritex- Mvuma district

RECOMMENDATIONS

· Appropriate crop inputs should be donated to the affected households. Agritex and ZFU could assist in the exercise. Past experience, has shown that:

a) Most input supply schemes, deliver inputs to intended beneficiaries late in the season. Appropriate time will be by end of September or end of October at the latest. b) Targeting of beneficiaries has not been quite efficient in the sense that non-deserving households benefit and thus the needy lose out. c) The donated / provided inputs are sometimes not suitable for the agro-ecological areas in question and in disagreement with what extensionists advice farmers to grow. Proposed guidelines for input allocation per affected household for the 2000/01production season are given in Appendix XII.

· Households should be persuaded to desist from cropping along riverbanks. · Farmers areas prone to Grey Leaf Spot should be encouraged to grow Grey Leaf Spot tolerant maize varieties since the disease can cause extensive crop loss. Although the seed cost for such varieties is higher than non-tolerant types, the reward of using the former at the end of the season is high. · Infrastructure in the affected areas urgently needs to be repaired to facilitate marketing of the remaining crops and fruits in particular for the Chipinge and Chimanimani fruit production areas. · Growing short season varieties is advisable so that the affected households get own food and income earlier.

26 6.2 LIVESTOCK

6.2.1 Importance of livestock in a community

Various types of livestock traditionally kept by the rural communities for a variety of uses. These are: cattle, goats, donkeys, chickens, pigs and sheep. Draught power is one of the most important uses of cattle and donkeys. Rural households rely on cropping and without draught power for ploughing fields household food security is threatened. Selling of livestock particularly cattle and goats can be an important source of income for rural families, with cattle fetching between Z$4 000 and Z$12 000 per beast.

Domestic livestock also provide milk and meat. Manure from animals is important for use in fields, as most communal area soils tend to have poor fertility. Goat manure is especially highly valued for use in vegetable gardens.

6.2.2 Livestock ownership patterns in the affected areas

The majority of farmers in the affected areas have cattle. The following graph gives the average number of cattle per household in the areas visited.

Figure 1: Cattle ownership in the four Districts

16

14

12

10

8

6

Animals per Household 4

2

0 Chimanimani Chipinge Mberengwa Chirumanzi DISTRICT

The ownership of goats is also very variable, even within the districts. This ranges from three to six goats. The lowest ownership was in Mvuma, where a whole village might not have any goat. Donkey ownership per household in all districts was also between three and six. Every household kept some poultry.

Cattle ownership in Ngorima A is 5% of the households with an average of 2 cattle per household, while it is high in the resettlement area of Shinja and other low lying areas of Chipinge like ward 28. Cattle and goats are sold when there is a crisis in the household

6.2.3 Livestock sales

Most of the livestock sales are done within the communities. The butchers are the major customers, the next being farmer to farmer. The Cold Storage Commission used to arrange

27 marketing for cattle buyers and sellers, but now this seems no longer to be happening. There is however room for improved marketing strategies. The livestock selling prices in the various districts are shown in Table 6.2.1. Table 6.2.1: Average livestock selling prices (US$) Chimanimani Chipinge Mberengwa Mvuma Cattle 158 105 316 105 Goats 18 13 16 18 Source: Farmers and Veterinary Department

1. The possible reason why there is a higher price for cattle in Mberengwa is because of their bigger frame and size as compared to the other zones.

6.2.4 Livestock losses

A lot of livestock was washed away as people were not prepared for the magnitude of the floods and did not have adequate time to move them to higher ground.

Tables 6.2.2 and 6.2.3 show the livestock losses experienced by the farmers in the assessed areas as of 31 March 2000. The estimated costs required for a restocking exercise are also given.

Table 6.2.2: Livestock losses in Manicaland

LIVESTOCK CHIMANIMANI CHIPINGE TOTAL NUMBER UNIT COST REPLACEMENT (US$) VALUE (US$) CATTLE 85 189 274 158 43263 GOATS 209 1032 1241 18 22861 SHEEP 53 124 177 21 3726 PIGS 108 108 26 2842 DONKEYS 7 78 85 18 1566 CHICKENS 325 3849 4174 2 9886 TURKEYS 17 30 47 3 148 DUCKS 1115 1115 3 2934

TOTAL COST US$ 87 226

Table 6.2.3: Livestock losses in Midlands LIVESTOCK MBERENGWA UNIT COST (US$) ESTIMATED REPLACEMENT VALUE (US$) CATTLE 24 $ 263.16 $ 6,315.79 GOATS 48 $ 18.42 $ 884.21 SHEEP 1 $ 21.05 $ 21.05 DONKEYS 37 $ 26.32 $ 973.68

TOTAL COST US$ 8195

In the Midlands Province, Mberengwa District was the most affected. Most of the livestock washed away was as a result of the breaching of the Mundi-Mataga dam. The dam was still under construction before the cyclone. There were no livestock losses reported in Mvuma. The major effect of the cyclone here was on crops and houses. In all provinces, livestock losses were not classified in any manner according to age, sex or size.

28 6.2.5 Infrastructure damages

Some livestock infrastructure was damaged. This included dips, cattle fences, dams and holding pens.

1. Dips Some of these had their roofs blown off, or collapsed walls. In some instances, the dips were flooded and eventually became silted.

2. Game cordon fences Zimbabwe, in an effort to limit transmission of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), has created game corridors, which are fenced to prevent buffalo (FMD carriers) to get into contact with cattle. These fences were washed away especially where they crossed rivers. Table 6.2.4: Infrastructure damaged INFRASTRUCTURE CHIMANIMANI CHIPINGE MBERENGWA TOTAL No. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIRS (US$) FENCES (km) 2 2 4 $ 1,263.16 DIP TANKS 2 6 8 $ 27,368.11 TOTAL $ 28,631.27

6.2.6 Animal health Animal health in Manicaland

In most areas of the province, the extended rainy season gave rise to an increasing incidence of tick-borne diseases. The diseases noted were Anaplasmosis (gall sickness), Babesiosis (Red water), Cowdriosis (Heartwater) and Theileriosis (January disease). However, Chipinge did not report any significant increase in the incidence of these diseases. The Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) reported the following cases of tick-borne diseases;

Figure2: Incidence of disease on commercial farms in Manicaland Incidence of tick-borne diseases in Manicaland

450 400

350

300 Reported cases 250 Deaths

200 Number 150

100

50

0 Anaplasmosis Babesiosis Cowdriosis Theileriosis DISEASE

Lumpy skin disease was reported to be on the increase in the province, with twelve cases being reported on commercial farms.

The prevalence of tick-borne diseases could be attributed to the erratic supply of drugs and dipping schedules due to damaged infrastructure and impassable roads for drug

29 replenishment. Some dip tanks were also not usable. The most affected areas were in the Save Valley.

In Chimanimani and Chipinge, cases of black leg and anthrax were reported. There is a positive correlation found between heavy rainfall and outbreaks of these diseases.

Newcastle Disease and fowlpox were also common poultry diseases in all the areas visited.

Animal health in Midlands

The major diseases reported in this province were Foot-rot and Three-Day Stiff sickness (Ephemeral fever). · The stiff sickness is a viral disease caused by climatic variations giving rise to increased vectors for the virus. · Foot-rot is favoured by high temperature and humidity particularly when muddy ground is used for penning or kraaling animals.

6.2.7 Grazing The heavy rains brought about lush and good grazing to the affected areas. Mopane browse was also available in the drier parts. However, communal grazing riparian to flooded rivers was washed away. These are areas where green grazing is found most of the time during drier periods. It is estimated that five percent of this grazing was washed away.

On commercial farms, grazing was not much affected as it is usually sited on higher ground with well drained soils.

6.2.8 Impact on livestock and household

Table 6.2.5: Impact on livestock and household LIVESTOCK HOUSEHOLD SHORT TERM · Increasing incidence of disease · There was loss of animal products, requires immediate attention through especially meat and milk timely supply of drugs. · Good grazing available for the · Fetch good prices if sold surviving stock · High levels of milk production

MEDIUM TERM · Failure of crops means there will not · Loss of draught power be any fodder for supplementing · Loss of manure for fields productive animals (draught power, milk) during the dry season.

LONG TERM · Loss of breeding stock · Loss of draught power · Loss of financial security

6.2.9 Recommendations

Control of Disease

· Most of the tick diseases are a result of failure to deliver drugs and vaccines to affected areas. This has been brought about by inaccessible roads. Repair of these roads and bridges should be made a priority to combat the diseases before they become endemic. The same applies to other livestock diseases like anthrax, black-leg, fowlpox and New Castle Disease (NCD).

30 · The high cost of some drugs and their unavailability might also hamper efforts to address the situation timely. Assistance to procure these has to be sought. · Some dips, which were damaged, need repairs and funds have to be made available for refurbishing. · For the control of Foot-rot there is a need for good sanitation and dry pens and kraals. These should be erected on sloping ground and the soils well drained.

The Department of Veterinary Services has indicated the drugs, which would be required, for all areas affected by the cyclone. These are given in the in the Appendix X.

Restocking exercise

There is a need for assistance in the replacement of animals washed away by the floods. Of major concern is the loss of draught power on which many communities are dependent for their livelihood. There is therefore a need to look into possible sources of cattle and donkeys for the farmers. Funding could be sourced from the Livestock Development Trust (LDT), the Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union (ZFU), or some donors like Heifer Project International.

Livestock Development Trust

The LDT has been given responsibility for organising dipping, marketing, loans for purchases of livestock and general livestock development programmes. The Trust could therefore act as the coordinator of the restocking exercise.

Already a restocking programme has been put in place to address the livestock losses of the 1991/92 drought. Chipinge had taken delivery of 137 heifers from the scheme and Chimanimani had got 101. The programme was started in 1997.

During the time of the visit, Chimanimani district had already screened candidates to benefit from the heifer loan scheme prior to the cyclone.

Small stock

These should also be given priority for restocking. They play a very important role in rural farming systems. Very little capital is required to start up a flock, and they reach market age earlier than cattle and allow a quick return on investment

6.3 IRRIGATION AND WATER RESOURCES

Irrigation is very important in these provinces where the majority of the areas are located in the drier Natural regions IV and V. In these regions agriculture is risky and people depend mainly on irrigation both for food and as a source of income. Hence any damages resulting in the non functioning of small dams and irrigation schemes has a direct bearing on the food security situation of irrigation farmers and surrounding communities. Information on the damages was mainly obtained from the Civil Protection Unit (CPU), Department of Water Development (DWD) and Department of Agricultural Technical and Extension Services (AGRITEX) provincial, district and scheme staff. Farmers and other key institutions were also consulted. To verify and consolidate the secondary information visits were made to selected damaged irrigation schemes in Chimanimani, Chipinge, Mberengwa and Mvuma districts. The damage to irrigation schemes was identified to be in two forms. Firstly, there was physical damage to irrigation infrastructure (dams, weirs, intake structures, pumping stations, canals, distribution structures and pipes). Secondly there was crop damage on the

31 irrigation scheme, either through complete crop wash away or damage through water logging and leaching. The extent of each type of damage varied from scheme to scheme. The damage to dams varied from complete silting, complete washing away of dam wall and embankment and cracking of the dam wall.

6.3.1 MANICALAND PROVINCE

Irrigation schemes

The irrigation schemes, which were damaged by floods in Manicaland, are mainly those located in the Save valley. There is a high concentration of irrigation schemes along the Save River, stretching from Nyanyadzi/Nenhowe down to . Due to the abnormally high rainfall received in the province the water level of the Save river rose above normal levels resulting in severe flooding of the adjacent irrigation schemes. In some cases, the Save changed its course cutting through irrigation schemes and in the process inflicting heavy damage to infrastructure and crops. Most pumping stations along the river were either completely submerged or washed away. Canals and irrigation plots were heavily silted and eroded. The schemes damaged are:

District Scheme Area (Ha) Mutare Mpudzi 46 Chimanimani Chakohwa 85 Nyanyadzi/Nenhowe 540 Nyanyadzi South 200 Chipinge Mutema 371 Tawona 362 Chibuwe 306 Musikavanhu 698 Buhera Bonde 264 Deure 261

Field visits were made to Chakohwa, Nyanyadzi, Musikavanhu and Chibuwe irrigation schemes to assess the damages. Table 6.3.1 summarises the details of damaged irrigation schemes in Manicaland province and the estimated costs of rehabilitating the infrastructure.

32 Table 6.3.1: Details of irrigation schemes damaged in Manicaland province

Name of scheme District Area Natural No. of Details of damaged irrigation Crop damages Estimated Remarks (Ha) Region plot infrastructure costs of holders repairing irrigation infrastructure Mpudzi Mutare 46 III 46 -20m of weir 1 washed away -About 23ha maize 10 houses of farmers destroyed. At time - weir 2 silted with debris and boulders submerged and cobs US$ 25 894 of visit whole scheme could not operate. -60m of 150mm diameter steel pipe from are rotting. G/nuts weir to field washed away from 11.5 ha which -7 culverts on access road to scheme were being dried now washed away germinating. Flower drop on 11.5ha of bean crop Chakohwa Chimanimani 85 IV 117 -25m of weir and intake structure on -No crop damages At time of visit whole scheme could not Chakohwa river completely swept away were reported. US$ 23 800 operate. Farmers had already de-silted -4km of lined main canal completely Farmers worried main canal using own resources. Farmers silted since they cannot worried about inability to plant their plant the winter bean winter bean crop crop, one of their most profitable crops Nyanyadzi/Nenhowe Chimanimani 540 V 642 -4 Worthington QL pumps submerged -About 200ha of At time of visit whole scheme could not and damaged. Intake tunnel silted maize crop US$ 366 160 operate. Farmers were busy de- silting -5m intake weir damaged completely washed the main canal using own resources - 60m 525mm diameter. steel pipe away. washed away -8km road to weir eroded in some sections -1000m block B fencing swept away - 950m of unlined main canal from weir silted -3800m field canals (0.25m bed width) washed away - 150ha Block B completely silted. Nyanyadzi South Chimanimani 200 V 200 - 2 boreholes completely submerged -Tomato nurseries At time of visit a contractor had been completely washed US$ 5 000 contacted to inspect and repair all away. Maize in the boreholes pumps which were flooded. field which was The scheme is an EU supported project. ready for harvesting is now germinating on the cob due to excess rainfall

33 Name of scheme District Area Natural No. of Details of damaged irrigation Crop damages Estimated Remarks (Ha) Region plot infrastructure costs of holders repairing irrigation infrastructure Mutema Chipinge 282 V 371 -3 boreholes collapsed due to flooding -No crop damages At the time of visit the whole scheme -900m of AC pipeline from borehole 4 to reported. US$ 110 200 was not operational due to the damages. field washed away -Transformer and power line to borehole 4 washed away -Intake structure and 400m main canal for the surface block was washed away -47ha of plots completely eroded -3 extension staff houses damaged

Tawona Chipinge 362 V 258 -Pump house flooded but no physical -No crop damages US$ 5 000 Need to inspect pumps for any damage. damage. Pump house silted. reported Need to de-silt the pump house with help of farmers. Chibuwe Chipinge 306 V 262 -Pumps on Save river flooded and -72ha of maize It is proposed during the rehabilitation damaged completely destroyed US$ 246 865 also to concrete line the existing 8000m - 2500 m of field canals washed away -14ha of paprika main canal which was severely damaged -Unlined main canal breached at 3 completely by the floods. The main line was points destroyed. originally unlined. Proposed to re-locate -Block E (22ha) eroded away beyond -9ha cotton Block E (2200m field canals) and its rehabilitation completely destroyed pump house. Land has already been -4 farmers had their homesteads and identified granaries washed away Musikavanhu Chipinge 698 V 621 - Borehole 27 completely submerged by -107 ha of maize There was minimal damage to irrigation floods completely destroyed US$ 50 000 infrastructure on this EU supported - 4.2 km of fence fallen down -11ha of paprika scheme. At the time of visit a contractor -100ha of irrigation land completely completely destroyed had been asked to check and inspect all silted -46ha cotton the boreholes for any hidden damage. -15 Blair latrines in the irrigation completely destroyed 383 irrigators lost their homesteads. scheme collapsed and 7 have cracked -2ha mixed walls vegetables -120 pieces of 75 mm diameter. siphons completely destroyed swept away Deure Buhera 261 V 384 -Intake structure and 500m of main canal -No crop damages US$ 2 500 At time of visit farmers had started silted. reported. desilting using own resources. Total command area of scheme is 446ha Bonde Buhera 264 V 528 -3 APF pumps completely submerged -No crop damages US $ 5 000 Pumps need drying and rewiring. Total and silted reported command area of scheme is 660ha. Sources: Agritex, DWD and mission findings, April 2000

34 Dams

In addition to the irrigation schemes 13 small earth dams were damaged in Chimanimani and Chipinge districts. The dams are used for domestic purposes, livestock watering, fishing and more importantly for the irrigation of community vegetable gardens. The vegetable gardens are normally 0.2 – 0.4ha in size and each household is allocated 3- 5 beds each bed being 5m2. Women and children are the main participants. The main crops grown are rape, tomatoes, green maize and onions. The gardens are therefore important for improved nutrition and as a source of food security. Detailed information on the capacities and exact nature of damage on each dam was not readily available at the time of mission. Due to time constraints each small earth dam could not be visited. However table gives the list of small earth dams were reported to have been damaged by the floods. The nature of damage varied from complete siltation, complete washing away of dam wall and cracking of the dam wall. Table 6.3.2 gives the small earth dams, which were reported to be damaged in Manicaland province. Table 6.3.2: Damaged small earth dams in Manicaland province Name of dam District Chenjere/Chikwakwa Chimanimani Mukandwa/Chikwakwa Chimanimani Chikwakwa clinic Chimanimani Haruna Chinyamiti Chimanimani Mundoringisa Chimanimani Oscar/Guhune Chimanimani Nyahondo/Chayamiti Chimanimani Muandave/Guhune Chimanimani Chiora Biriwiri ward, Chimanimani Mhizha Mhizha ward ,Chimanimani Mhandarume Mhandarume ward, Chimanimani Masengwe Ward 28, Chipinge Nyazvitende Ward 21, Chipinge Source: Manicaland CPU report, April 2000

Due to lack of detailed information, accurate cost estimate of rehabilitating the dams could not be derived. However from experience such small earth dams averages 150 000m3 in gross capacity. When they fail, the most common damage is breaching of the dam wall. The costs of repairing such damage are heavily dependent on the site conditions. Experience has shown that repairs on average costs about US$ 22 000 per dam of 150 000m3 capacity. Therefore for rehabilitating 13 small earth dams in Manicaland province will require financial resources estimated to be US$ 286 000.

6.3.2 MIDLANDS PROVINCE

Several irrigation schemes were damaged by floods in Midlands province. However as compared to Manicaland province the infrastructure damage was less. The main nature of damage was flooding and siltation of pumping houses, complete washing away of pumps and the severe erosion of irrigation plots. The major crop damages were reduction of expected crop yields due to excessive rainfall, which resulted in leaching, lodging and water logging. The worst affected irrigation schemes both in terms of infrastructure and crop damages are located in Gweru, Mberengwa, and Mvuma districts.

35 Table 6.3.3: Crop damages in irrigation schemes District Schemes Area (ha) Gweru Mamabanjeni 78 Mopane 5 Mkoba 11 Shagari 28 Mberengwa Chimwe Chegato 64 Mvuma Hamamavhaire 92

A field visit was made to Chimwe, Chegato and Hamamavhaire irrigation schemes to assess the damages. Due to time constraints it was not possible to visit all damaged schemes in the province to verify the nature of damages on the ground. The details of the worst damaged irrigation schemes in Midlands are presented in Table 6.3.4.

36 Table 6.3.4: Details of irrigation schemes damaged in Midlands province Name of District Area Natural No of plot Details of damaged irrigation Crop damages Estimated Remarks scheme (Ha) Region holders infrastructure costs of repairing irrigation infrastructure Mambanjeni Gweru 78 IV 168 -Pump house flooded by water. Seepage -No crop damages At time of visit the whole irrigation scheme continues as a problem into the pump house reported US$ 3 000 was not operational Hamamavhaire Mvuma 92 IV 92 -Pump house flooded and all 4 pumps and -About 46 ha of At time of visit the whole irrigation scheme electrical panels were damaged maize affected by US$ 6 000 was not operational. The position of the water logging. 40% pump house worsened the situation. It is yield loss expected located downstream of the dam wall and is - 46 ha which had susceptible to periodic flooding just been planted under beans under threat due to pump breakdown caused by flooding. Yield loss expected. Chimwe Mberengwa 64 IV 128 - 6 km scheme roads eroded -About 32 ha of Conservation works on irrigation scheme chegato - 20 plots ( 10ha) were eroded maize mildly affected US$ 40 000 were lacking before the floods and this - 800m fence fallen down by lodging. No worsened the erosion damage. Rehabilitation significant yield loss will include repairs to infield roads expected - Delay in planting next crop on 32 ha due to water logging Mopane Zvishavane 5 V 25 - Pump house washed away. Pump and -No crop losses Pumping system is sand abstraction motor were retrieved downstream reported US$ 4 000 Mkoba Gweru 11 III 102 -Scheme road severely eroded -Poor germination of Rehabilitation of infrastructure will include - 8 ha of scheme waterlogged 3 ha bean crop US$ 30 000 repair of the road. - 8 ha of maize crop waterlogged. 80% expected yield loss. Shagari Gweru 28 III 150 -Upper reaches of Shagari dam heavily silted -40% yield loss Rehabilitation works will involve repair of -Scheme road severely eroded expected on the 15ha US $ 50 000 access road and desilting part of dam -12 ha of scheme waterlogged maize crop due to water logging and leaching - 50% yield loss estimated for the bean crop. Sources: Agritex, DWD and mission findings, April 2000

37 Dams

One big dam called Mundi Mataga was damaged by floods in Midlands province. Mundi Mataga dam is located in Mberengwa district 110km from Zvishavane town and 3km Northwest of Mataga growth point. This is an earth embankment dam with a 32m high dam wall, a crest length of 300m and a gross reservoir capacity of 39 x 106m3. The dam construction started in 1997 and was due for completion in December 2000. At the time of damage, the dam was about 95% complete. The main purpose of the dam was to supply a proposed 500ha irrigation scheme (to benefit 1000 households each household with an average family size of 8) and supply domestic water to the nearby Mataga and Mnene business centres. The two business centres have a combined population of 13 000 households. The main damage to the dam was the washing away of the dam embankment and dam wall. There were severe downstream damages to crops, livestock and homesteads when the dam breached. Estimates obtained from DWD indicate that about US$ 125 0000 will be required to repair the dam. The mission was informed that repair work will start utilising funds which had been allocated to the project by the Government of Zimbabwe under the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) for the financial year 2000. However, the funds allocated by government will not be enough for the repairs and there is need to source for more funds.

A total of 14 small earth dams were damaged in the province. Eight of these are located in Mberengwa district while another six are located in Mvuma district. The small earth dams are used for domestic purposes, livestock watering, fishing and more importantly for the irrigation of community vegetable gardens. It was reported that for most of the dams when they breached the irrigation gardens and fencing down stream were also severely damaged or completely swept away. The details of damaged dams including the costs of repairs are given in Table 6.3.5. The costs include the provision of fencing material for the downstream community gardens, which were swept away when the dams breached. Table 6.3.5: Details of dams damaged in Midlands province Name of dam District Size Nature of damage Estimated costs of repairs Mundi Mataga Mberengwa Large -Embankment and dam wall US$ 125 0000 breached Gambure Mberengwa Small -Dam wall breached. 3 US $17 500 Community vegetable gardens down stream washed away together with fencing. Bafo Mberengwa Small -dam wall breached US$ 25 000 Mwenezi Mberengwa Small - Dam completely silted US$ 12 500 Manyenge Mberengwa Small -Dam wall breached US$ 12 500 Mavave Mberengwa Small - Dam swept away. Community US$ 20 000 vegetable gardens down stream washed away. Mabiza weir Mberengwa Small - Weir breached US$ 10 000 Gwehanga Mberengwa Small - Damaged spillway US$ 7 000 Mnene Mberengwa Small - Dam wall breached. This dam US$ 15 000 supplies Mnene hospital

38 Name of dam District Size Nature of damage Estimated costs of repairs Siyahokwe Mvuma Medium - Damaged spillway US$ 7 000 Tagarika Mvuma Medium - Cracks on dam wall, leaking US $ 5000 excessively. This dam supplies Tagarika irrigation scheme (25ha) Holycross Mvuma Small -Spillway damaged US$ 20 000 Siyawakuya Mvuma Small -Uncompleted spillway damaged US $ 15 000 Deketa Mvuma Small - Dam wall breached US $ 11 000 Ruhwerumwe Mvuma Small - Dam wall breached US$ 11 000 Source: Midlands AGRITEX and CPU Provincial reports. April 2000

6.4 NATURAL RESOURCES AND FORESTRY

The cyclone affected the forestry, fruit plantations and horticulture industries in Manicaland.

The Eastern Highlands are renowned for their intensive and extensive fruit production. In some areas such as the Rusitu Valley, ninety percent of the households depend on fruit sales.

Timber is the main commercial activity in the Eastern Highlands. Ninety-two percent of the nation’s timber plantations are situated there. The industry employs more than 3600 people in Chimanimani. The major forests are timber and wattle. Besides producing timber for the local markets, timber is also exported to regional markets.

Effects of Cyclone Eline There were extensive damage and gully formations on the landscapes. Roads were damaged and landslides were common.

Horticulture Most fruit trees and gardens which were along riverbanks were swept away. The damage to roads especially in Rusitu Valley made it inaccessible to fruit buyers from all over the country.

Timber The estimated damage to timber by the cyclone in the whole Eastern Districts was equivalent to a year’s harvest, according to the Timber Producers Federation. In Chimanimani the damage was uprooting of trees with several plantations being flattened. In Chipinge young trees were mainly destroyed. Table 6.4.1 gives the area of timber damaged in each district. Table 6.4.1: Estimate of the total ha damaged for the two districts

DISTRICT TOTAL TIMBER AREA DAMAGED (ha) ESTIMATED LOSS (US$) CHIMANIMANI 3230 9,912,500.00 CHIPINGE 110 37,500.00 TOTAL COST US $ 9,950,000.00 Source: Timber Producers Federation

39 There was also power failure, which meant sawmills could not be operated. The direct results of these disruptions were:

· Some sawmills closed due to power failure. Workers were sent on leave without pay while waiting for the situation to improve · There was temporary closure of factories in Mutare due to non-supply of timber and workers were sent on leave. · Inaccessibility due to damaged roads to the timber plantations and sawmills led to the failure to put timber on the market. The limited access to markets meant there was going to be a shortage both locally and internationally. · For Chipinge, due to destruction of young trees, a shortage of poles was envisaged in about five years. · Bigger companies were planning to salvage some of the timber and sell it to small sawmills. Timber from these trees was referred to as blue timber and has a lower value. However, some places had been rendered inaccessible to collect the damaged timber, making the salvage operations very limited.

In Chimanimani throughput will be lower during salvage operation, which would last for about nine months. Total output is foreseen to be lower than normal for about three years.

Generally there will be a lower timber production which would affect the livelihoods of e more than 3600 households who are directly involved with lumbering and saw-milling. Industries, which are downstream, like construction and carpentry will also face problems. Foreign currency from regional markets will also not be accessed.

Recommendation

Horticulture The repair of roads and other infrastructure is important to enable fruits to be marketed. On the aspect of re-establishment of destroyed fruit trees, assistance could be in the form of provision of young fruit trees adapted to the affected areas.

Timber Industry The Timber Federation is in a position to see to the recovery of their industry.

6.5 LIVELIHOODS

In Chipinge and Chimanimani people’s survival means include crop production (both dryland and irrigated crops), livestock production, employment on plantations, trading, sale of crafts and fruit production. Irrigation plays an important role in sustaining the livelihoods of the people in Chipinge where 58% of the land is in the drier natural regions of IV and V. The main crops grown in each district are shown in Table 6.5.1.

40 Table 6.5.1: Crop Production in Districts Chipinge Chimanimani Mberengwa Mvuma Dryland Irrigation Dryland Irrigation Dryland Dryland *Maize Maize *Maize Maize Maize Maize Mhunga Paprika Mhunga Paprika Cotton Rapoko Sorghum Vegetables Sorghum Vegetables Groundnuts Mbambaranuts Sunflower Tomatoes Sunflower Tomatoes Mbambaranuts Cowpeas Cotton Wheat Cotton Wheat Sorghum Groundnuts Burley Groundnuts Burley Groundnuts Mhunga Sunflower tobacco tobacco Groundnuts beans Groundnuts beans Rapoko Sorghum Sources: Agritex and Farmers *Maize is grown by all communal wards for food security and surplus is sold. Fruit production is a major source of income in the Rusitu valley. In this area maize can be grown throughout the year. Approximately 40% of households are normally food secure from own production. Crop production is done for cash and subsistence.

6.5.1 Sources of income

Table 6.5.2 shows the farmer’s sources of income in order of importance. Fruit production is a major source of income in Rusitu valley in the Chimanimani. In Ngorima the people hire out labor to forestry industries. Sales of crafts although not ranked were also mentioned as important sources of income in the low-lying areas.

Cotton production is on the increase in Mberengwa. There has been an increase in hectrage from 100 hectares four years ago to 2055 in 1999/2000 season (Agritex District Office). Fishing is done mainly in Manyuchi and Vurasha dams. Small-scale mining for gold and emeralds is another source of income in Mberengwa district

The livelihoods in Mberengwa and Mvuma districts are mainly agriculturally based with a few off-farm income sources Table 6.5.2: Sources of Income MBERENGWA MVUMA CHIPINGE CHIMANIMANI

Ward 28 and 22 Ngorima A Shinja Remittances Remittances Cotton Bananas Maize Crafts mainly weaving Crafts (knitting) Maize Citrus Sunflower Gardening/Nursery for Gardening Beans Avocado pears Groundnuts fruit trees Selling goats Hiring out labor Bananas Pineapples Bambara nuts Fishing Beer brewing Sorghum Mangoes Beans Cotton Black smithing Groundnuts Sweet potatoes Sorghum Hire out labor Sweet potatoes Sugarcane Sweet potatoes Peanut butter Livestock Madhumbe Mangoes Livestock Source: Agritex and farmers

41 Although farmers in this area did not mention production of honey as a source of income, an observation was made that some farmers in Shinja lost their beehives to the floods.

6.6 HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION

6.6.1 Food stocks and losses

Some communal farmers lost their food/grain stocks to the floods when their granaries were washed away. Quantities of stocks washed away by the floods are still being worked out. In Chipinge, Chimanimani, Mberengwa and Mvuma, several granaries, (mainly pole and dagga with thatched roof) were destroyed. The following table summarises the number of granaries destroyed in the visited districts.

Table 6.6.1: The number of granaries destroyed per district PROVINCE MANICALAND MIDLANDS

DISTRICT CHIMANIMANI CHIPINGE MBERENGWA MVUMA

Number of granaries 3000 1000 361 Several, not yet destroyed quantified

The grain stored in these granaries was either washed away or left to rot in the mud since it was then difficult to separate them from the mud during the windy and heavy rains. For those who still had grain in the granaries, water seepage and moist conditions were promoting germination and moulds. Grain shortage is being reflected by the high prices that are pegged at around $120-00 per bucket.

In Manicaland and Midlands, most of the affected wards had run out of stocks from last year’s harvest and only a few farmers in some wards still held stocks. Roughly 5% of the population still holds stock in most wards in Chipinge, Mvuma and Mberengwa. In Chimanimani approximately 10% of the households were said to have stocks that would take them up to the next harvest. However, the general indication was that the majority of the people had exhausted their stocks before the floods. Additionally stocks from surplus production were already sold, in expectation of the next good harvest.

The lack of granaries will cause severe storage problems for the remaining harvest and the next season harvest. This will cause an high increase in post harvest losses and will reduce the food availability even further Communal farmers whose granaries were destroyed need help in rebuilding their granaries to enable them to store the proceeds from this season’s harvest. The cost of rebuilding the granaries still has to be worked out. However, affected households could benefit from community assistance in as regards moulding bricks, cutting thatch grass and poles. Community leaders should take the lead and organize the participation of the affected members of the community. The household food security of these affected families depends to a certain extent on the reconstruction of these storage facilities.

42 6.6.2 Food consumption patterns and change

Information in this section was mainly obtained from interviews with agricultural extension staff and farmers, since almost no data from secondary literature were available. Due to the limited time of the mission assessments in all affected areas and on household level were not possible. Therefore information can only be regarded as examples for the visited for the districts or provinces. Nevertheless they provide an indication on food consumption patterns and changes due to food shortages.

The main staple food in the districts is maize. Additionally limited amounts of small grains are consumed, especially in times of food shortages. Vegetables such as rape, okra and beans are usually available throughout the year. Same for groundnuts. Nevertheless the season for garden production, where most of the own produced vegetables are obtained from is from April/May to September/October depending on rainfall and season for staple crops. Only gardens used for cash crop production are attended throughout the year.

Animal products such as meat and milk are consumed in very limited amounts and play an insignificant role in the nutrition. Only in Mvuma district households are regularly buying small amounts of meat. Also fresh fish does not play a significant role.

MANICALAND PROVINCE

Chimanimani district

Families in Shinja usually consume two to three meals per day and had to reduce this to one to two meals per day. If the number of meals remain reduced over a longer period this will have a severe impact especially in the nutritional status of children under five as well as on other risk groups. The typical meal composition in this area consists of sadza (maize) and relish prepared of available vegetable mainly rape, beans and okra.

Staple crops such as maize and wheat are normally available throughout the year in the area. As alternative staple crop sorghum is grown and it is mainly used for beer brewing and during times of food shortages. Vegetables such as beans, okra, rape and groundnuts play an important role in the diet and are the major vegetables, available almost throughout the year (10 – 12 months). Other vegetable such as pumpkin leaves, tomatoes as well as sweet potatoes are only seasonal. Wild foods consumed in this area are Baobab and Nyii, but play a limited role in nutrition.

43 Annual food consumption calendar (harvest season including storage period) Example combined from Shinja and Rusitu

J F M A M J J A S O N D Maize meal · · · · · · · · · · · · Wheat (Shinja) · · · · · · · · · · · · Sorghum (Rusitu) · · · · · · Beans · · · · · · · · · · · · Rape · · · · · · · · · · · · Okra · · · · · · · · · · · · Lemons · · · · · · · · · · · · Ground nuts · · · · · · · · · · Pumpkin leaves · · · · · Carrots (Rusitu) · · · Sugarcane · · · · · · · Baobab fruit · · · · · · Nyii fruit · · · · · · Papaya · · · · · Sweet Potato · · · · · Avocado · · · · · Madhumbe (Tarrow) · · · · Irish Potatoes · · · Orange · · · Guavas · · · Tomatoes · ·

Food shortages

Major consumed food crops affected and currently lacking are staple crops such as maize, sweet potato, madhumbe and vegetables like pumpkin, beans, rape, okra, , irish potatoes and groundnuts. Fruit crops, such as lemons, bananas, guava and papaya are not directly affected to that extend, but due to the infrastructure damages, transportation of the fruits to the markets was hampered, so that part of the fruits, in particular bananas rot in the valley. This caused losses in income, what limits the access to staple foods such as mealie meal, since this is normally used to obtain these foods.

The food security situation differs within the area and depends on the normal food and income sources. While in the Rusitu valley on average 40% of the households can secure their food security from own production, the remaining 60% are obtained from buying at markets and shops using the income gained from fruit sales. In Shinja, most of the families acquire 100% of their food needs from own production. Therefore in the Rusitu valley a lower percentage of households are food insecure due to crop losses and are able to maintain their livelihoods, if marketing structures are rather quickly rehabilitated. However households in Shinja lost major parts of their food crops and 80% of the population is food insecure now and depending on food aid.

44 Chipinge District

Families in Chinyamukwakwa reduced their number of meals from two to three meals to one to two meals per day since the onset of the disaster.

A meal usually consists of mealie meal and some relish prepared of karpenta, beans and some green leafy vegetables such as rape, pumpkin leaves and okra.

The main staple foods produced in Chipinge are maize and sorghum. Although small grains are grown to some extend the main taste preference is for maize. Additionally the small grains are more labour intensive when it comes to processing. The main vegetables produced and consumed in the area are rape, okra, pumpkin and groundnuts. Bananas, avocados, guavas are produced to a limited extend and are mainly for sale, therefore only play a small role in their diet. While fishing is done, especially in areas close to the Save River, fish plays an insignificant role in the diet.

Annual food consumption calendar (harvest season including storage period) Example combined from Gumira and Chinyamukwakwa

J F M A M J J A S O N D Maize meal · · · · · · · · · · · · Beans · · · · · · · · Rape · · · · · · · · · · · · Okra · · · · · · · · · · · · Ground nuts · · · · · · · · · Sugarcane · · · · · · · Sorghum · · · · · · · · · · · · Nyimo · · · · · · · · · Cucumber · · · · · · Sweet Potato · · · · · Pumpkins · · · · · · · · · Pumpkin leaves · · · · · · · · · Sweet reeds · · · Water Melons · · ·

Food shortages

The staple foods missing or insufficient in the current situation are maize and sweet potatoes. Vegetables, normally available during this season are rape, okra, pumpkin leaves, tsunga. These vegetables are not available due to the damages

Under normal conditions, Gumira households produce 80% of their maize requirements, while the other 20% are bought from local markets using the income obtained from hiring out labour to other farmers. In Chinyamukwakwa the people produce 90 % of their maize requirements, However 60% of the households do not produce sufficient food for an entire season, and are consequently food insecure even in normal years. The impact of the cyclone especially on the crop damages will have a severe impact on the household

45 food security situation. The most food insecure households will only have sufficient food supply to last up to August – September 2000.

MIDLANDS PROVINCE

Mberengwa District

The majority of households did not reduce the number of meals per day and still consume three meals per day. Small grains like pearl millet and sorghum are grown at the same scale as maize in the district and these are available throughout the year. However the use of small grains is limited and the preferred staple crop is maize. The main vegetable available throughout the year is rape, while beans, groundnuts and sweet potatoes are available during the winter season. Fish plays a limited role in areas close to the seasonal streams and rivers.

Annual food consumption calendar (harvest season including storage period) Example from Mataga

J F M A M J J A S O N D Maize meal · · · · · · · · · · · · Mhunga · · · · · · · · · · · · Sorghum · · · · · · · · · · · · Beans · · · · · · · Rape · · · · · · · · · · · · Lemons · · · · · · · · · · · · Ground nuts · · · · · · · · · · · Nyimo · · · · · Sweet potatoes · · · · · Water melon · · · Pumpkin leaves · · · · Carrots · · · Orange · · · Guavas · · · Tomatoes · · · · · · · ·

Food shortages There will be a lack of the staple food maize and small grains due to expected yield losses caused by the floods. Some varieties of small grains were seen to be recovering.

Rape, pumpkin leaves, tomatoes, groundnuts and nyimo (round nuts) will also be in short supply as they were damaged and none is available on the markets. The concern of food insecurity is especially addressed to children under five because of the insufficiency of beans and karpenta, on the market, which normally ensures a balanced diet for this population group.

46 Mvuma District

In addition to the staple crop maize this district also produces rice to a limited extend. However rice is not regarded as staple food. The damage to the rice production is compared to other staple crops limited. Guavas, grapes, oranges and mangoes are produced, on a limited scale in some wards like Chizhou. Wild fruits consumed when available are mazhanje and nyii. In addition protein rich food items such as meat and katemba are bought on the markets from additional income gained by hiring out labour.

Annual food consumption calendar (harvest season including storage period) Example from Mapirayana

J F M A M J J A S O N D Maize meal · · · · · · · · · · · · Rice · · · · · · · · · · · · Sorghum · · · · · · Rapoko · · · · · · Mahanje · · · Beans · · · · · · · Rape · · · · · · · · · · · · Lemons · · · · · · · · · · · · Ground nuts · · · · · · · · · · Nyimo · · · · · Pumpkin leaves · · · · · Orange · · · Guavas · · · · Tomatoes · · · · · · · ·

Food shortages

The main food items lacking in the current situation are vegetables and peanut butter. In addition rapoko is missing although it was not heavily affected. The fact that households indicated the lack of rapoko shows that maize is insufficient, since rapoko is usually used as an alternative for maize when it is in short supply.

On average only 20% of the farmers produce enough staple crops for the whole year, 80% of the households run out of food stocks in February – March every year. Vegetables are produced in sufficient quantities to meet the consumption needs throughout the year. However under the current circumstances the yields of staple crops will be reduced by about 40% and the yields of vegetable will be low due to the excessive rainfall

47 6.6.3 Food Safety and Food Processing and preparation

Food Safety In Chimanimani no evidence was found for cases of food contamination at household level or markets. Due to the generally high food quality standards in Zimbabwe it is not expected that people will consume germinated maize or other food crops. In Rusitu valley families were sorting maize to avoid the consumption of affected maize.

Due to the losses of granaries (approx. 3000) storage will become a problem during the coming season, if the granaries are not reconstructed in time. Shortage or lack of food storage facilities could lead to damage by rodents and germination of maize grain.

In Chipinge very few cases of food poisoning and intoxications are indicated on medical cards of the most affected districts. In Chinyamukwakwa and Checheche 3 and 6 cases respectively were recorded. However no indication of the nature of the poisoning is given. Therefore it can not be necessarily concluded that it is due to food poisoning.

In the visited areas of Midlands no indication on food contamination at household or market level was known.

Food Processing and preparation

Medium and small-scale food processing technologies were not directly affected in Manicaland by damages to the extend that replacement is required. However in Chimanimani, instances were encountered where a number of grinding mills etc. were not in operation due to the diesel shortage. This was worsened by the impact of the cyclone on infrastructure and electricity disconnection.

Families in ward 28 of Chinyamukwakwa used to process maize grain at a diesel-run grinding mill some three kilometres away. However, due to the diesel shortage they are forced to travel about 30 kilometres to an electric mill at Checheche. In Shinja resettlement (village 11) the same problem of diesel shortage was faced by the villagers who had now, to travel bout 15 kilometres to the nearest electric grinding mill. In Mataga (Midlands) one grinding mill was completely destroyed by flooding caused by the dam breaching.

Due to cooking fuel shortages - firewood (Nyanyadzi, Chinyamakwakwa) and paraffin shortages (growth points and small towns) in all the visited there was a reduction in the numbers of cooked meals per day. This also had an impact on the choice of foods to be consumed as people changed their food consumption habits to foods that does not need any preparation. This trend was increased due to the fact that a number of households lost their cooking utensils.

48 6.6.4 Coping strategies

Rather than seeking alternative coping strategies at times of food shortages, people seem to intensify common methods of earning income and seeking support from relatives inside or outside the living environment. The coping strategies available in the affected districts included buying and selling of second hand clothes, vegetables, fruits, crafts and wild fruits, intensification of gardening, providing casual labour to households with a large asset base and remittances from working relatives. Table 6.6.2 summaries some of the coping strategies in the visited areas. These may differ from one agricultural zone to another.

Table 6.6.2: Coping mechanisms in some of the affected areas Province Area visited Coping strategy MANICALAND Rusitu (Chimanimani) · Hiring out of labor to Timber estates and to households with a larger asset base, · Remittances, · Selling fruits, · Reduction of number of meals per day. Shinja (Chimanimani) · Vegetable Gardens, · Selling livestock · Hiring out of labor to households with a large asset base, · Remittances, · Selling fruits, · Reduction of number of meals per day. Gumira · Selling livestock, (Chipinge) · Hiring out of labor to ARDA Estates and to households with a large asset base, · Remittances · Reduction of number of meals per day. Chinyamukwakwa · Reduction of number of meals per day (Chipinge) · Selling livestock, · Hiring out of labor to ARDA Estates and to households with a large asset base, · Remittances MIDLANDS Mataga · Moving in with relatives or other community (Mberengwa) members. · Farmers assisting each other by identifying the needs of the most affected and providing help, · Hiring out of labor to households with a large asset base, · Remittances Mapiravana (Mvuma) · Hiring out of labor to households with a large asset base, · Remittances, · Reduction of number of meals per day.

Hiring out of labor to Timber estates is not possible this year since the companies were also affected by the cyclone.

49 For those households who did not loose their livestock to the floods selling of livestock particularly cattle and goats are an important source of income. The majority of the farmers have cattle with some few individuals owning more than 50 cattle and 200 goats. Marketing of the cattle is done locally within the communal areas. The price of cattle range from Z$4 000 per cow in Chipinge to Z$12 000 per cow (in Mberengwa) However, the marketing of cattle in Chipinge, Chimanimani and Mberengwa is not well organized and there is room for improved marketing strategies. The income obtained from livestock sales can be used by farmers to buy food from the markets. Therefore the food security of the cattle herd owners depend on the establishment of cattle and food markets.

6.6.5 Food security situation in the affected areas of Manicaland and Midlands provinces

The southern parts of Midlands and the eastern areas of Manicaland (Chipinge and Chimanimani districts) usually do not meet their food requirements from own production. These communities normally supplement their food requirements from income sources such as remittances, fruit sale, selling craft, cotton sale, hiring out labor mainly to timber industries and commercial farms and then buy grain from the markets. Some of these income sources have been eroded by the cyclone damages. Therefore the food security situation needs to be closely monitored, as these households are most likely going to experience food shortages in the near future. The number of food insecure households is expected to increase due to exhaustion of the remaining food stocks, absence of alternative income sources, post harvest losses, losses due to poor storage facilities, livestock losses and other indirect impacts of the cyclone. Furthermore farmers will not have sufficient inputs (seeds and fertilizer) for the coming planting season. Some interviewees indicated that they will only have sufficient inputs for 50 – 60% of the area usually planted.

A number of households in the both provinces lost their homes and their entire fields. Hence, the need of food aid. The intervention by a number of NGOs and the CPUs as well as various donations from churches and community members immediately after the cyclone, contributed a lot in satisfying the immediate food requirements of the affected families. Nevertheless food requirements of most affected households were met up to May 2000 and no future contingency plans were in place in all the affected districts.

From available data, it was not possible to make reliable estimates on the number and extent of people affected per district. However the numbers of damaged houses, crop losses and livestock losses can give an indication.

Affected households can be classified as follows:

1. Households who lost their houses and major parts of their fields and never owned livestock or lost it entirely. These households depend on food handouts either free distribution or food for work.

50 2. Households who lost part of their houses, part of their fields and part of their livestock. These households can only meet their food requirements for the next three to six months 3. Households who lost their houses but have at least one member who is gainfully employed and can afford to buy grain from the markets. 4. Households headed by females or/and orphans who lost all or part of their houses, fields and livestock.

Households taking care of orphans have increased food requirements, are therefore more vulnerable to food insecurity and need assistance as well. Households headed by gainfully employed males can actually manage.

MANICALAND PROVINCE

Chimanimani

In Chimanimani, about 1050 households were directly affected although at different levels by the cyclone. Crop ‘wash aways’ (mostly along riverbanks) led to a total crop loss (maize and small grains) amounting to 11 236 tones and that will affect the food supply of about 7500 households (based on estimated food requirements of 250 kg/year). A total loss of 250 nutrition gardens increases the threat to household food security because of the loss of vegetables for both consumption and sale. Numerous granaries (3000, mainly thatch with roof pole and mud or brick infrastructures) and remaining food stocks were destroyed. Water seepage and moist conditions promoted germination and moulds attack on the remaining stocks. Poor storage facilities will worsen the situation once the standing crop is harvested.

Major income sources are fruit sales for households in the valley areas (10% of total district population), hiring out labor in the timber industries and crop production on dryland as well as irrigated land. In Rusitu (a valley), about 90 % of the households are mainly depending on fruit sales and they use the income to purchase their food requirements. Marketing has been seriously hampered by the damaged infrastructure, which includes blocked roads, by fallen plantation trees and landslides. Fruit products ready for harvesting and marketing were rotting. The situation has been worsened by the absence of knowledge and assets to process and preserve the fruits until such a time when they can be marketed. The food security for these households depends on the rehabilitation of roads and bridges. In Shinja (dryland) household food security mainly depends on crop production and is at a threat for about 35% of the households without Livestock. In areas with irrigation schemes household food security depends on the rehabilitation of this schemes.

In the forest areas, a significant numbers of households (about 3650) sustain their livelihoods by hiring out labor in the timber industries. Due to the damages to the timber plantations, a number of sawmills had their operations suspended for two to three weeks and those operating will only do so at half capacity.

51 Chipinge

In Chipinge approximately 2430 households lost their homesteads. Due to the climatic and soil conditions, the majority of households depend on crop production in irrigation schemes. This is so because there is very low agricultural potential in these areas. However, only about 4% of the households own plots on the irrigation schemes. Therefore household food security in these areas depends on the rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure and relocation of plot holders within the schemes. This observation was made in the Gumira area. In Chinyamukwakwa, (no irrigation schemes) food security threatened because of the high crop losses due to wash aways mostly along the riverbanks and damage to a number of community gardens. The situation is worse for those households without livestock (25 %). The total staple crop losses for Chipinge are estimated to be about 18.040 tones and that will affect the food supply, particular in the end of the season of about 12 026 Households. The high loss of granaries (1000) and one Zunde Ramambo (Chinyamukwakwa) will make the storage for crops to be harvested difficult. Apart from the crop losses horticultural crops were also affected. Losses were estimated at about 50% for avocados, 70% for papayas and 50% for bananas. Due to the fact that the river changed his course, arable land close to the river was lost and new land has to be identified.

Main income sources in this district, for poor households, are income from employment and remittances and cash crop sales. While for households, which are slightly better off, livestock sales also, plays an important role. Employment in this case mainly refers to hiring out labor to commercial farms and estates.

MIDLANDS PROVINCE

Mberengwa

The area is very dry and households usually do not meet their food requirements from own production. Main source of food is grain production. Therefore household food security for all the wards without alternative income sources is at threat. However for those families who hire out labor into neighboring commercial farms or have one of their members gainfully employed, can manage to purchase supplementary food from the markets. Crop damages (40%) were mainly due to waterlogging and nutrient leaching because of the continuous heavy rainfall. A number of community gardens were destroyed. About 2114 homesteads lost one or two structures. Approximately 361 granaries collapsed and remaining food stocks were damaged. Assuming that 40% of the households in the district were agriculturally affected, about 14486 would be the number of households who lost about 40% of their crop. Estimated food requirements for grain crops (maize, sorghum, mhunga and rapoko) are 17.470 tones (based on a daily consumption of 0.6kg per person), while the expected crop yield reduced by the damage is 10.576, which leaves a food deficit of 6.894 tones up to February 2001 (Based on calculation of RDC Mberengwa).

52 The Mundi Mataga dam breached and about 115 families with a population of 618 people were directly affected. 35 households lost their houses and fields completely, while 50 households lost part of their houses and fields as well as livestock. Approximately 30 households in gainful employment lost their houses. Livestock losses amounting to 992 animals, only occurred downstream of the breached dam, but there has been a marked increase in livestock diseases and these may affect the quality of the beasts and hence the market price.

Mvuma

In Mvuma about 293 houses collapsed due to the heavy rains from November to March and left most families homeless. These families received food aid which may last them up to the end of March but their food requirements goes beyond that period that is until the next harvest. An estimate of 2000 homesteads lost their granaries. About 2500 families have their potential yield reduced by 40%. Better yields are expected from the early-planted maize compared to the late-planted crops, which have been damaged by water logging and leaching. Most of the households will only have enough food stocks to last until October – November 2000. The food deficit up to February 2001 will amount up to 1.080 tones.

6.6.6 Emergency Food Aid

MANICALAND PROVINCE

Chimanimani and Chipinge Districts

Emergency Food Aid in Chimanimani has mainly been provided by Red Cross, Plan International and Christian Care, while in Chipinge World Vision and Red Cross are the major organizations providing food and non food emergency aid. In both districts the CPU was heavily involved in the distribution mainly of donations received from the local communities and small organizations. Organizations shared the areas amongst each other according to their regular working areas and accessibility. Monthly food rations distributed by the organizations differed amongst the organizations.

Basic food items provided to affected households will be sufficient until May 2000. No contingency planning beyond this time is available because of lack of food from the organizations. Preference for food instead of money was clearly indicated by female farmers, because food aid is going to be used to improve nutrition while money is easily diverted to other uses by men and therefore not improving food security of the households.

The current provision of mealie-meal rather than grain for food aid is of advantage to the beneficiaries as they are served from walking long distances to grinding mills. However, preference for grain to mealie–meal was indicated by affected villagers in Shinja resettlement area because grain stores better than the processed product.

53 Besides the distribution of emergency food aid for affected families Red Cross established 10 Nutrition villages in Chipinge for supplementary feeding programs. The programs include cooking of sample meals for children under five combined with basic nutrition education for mothers on child feeding and supplementary feeding.

Food distributed to the communities was maize meal (10kg), cooking oil (750 ml), Karpenta (0,5kg), Salt (0,5 kg) and High Protein Biscuits for children.

The major problem observed in the process of food aid distribution is the insufficient targeting among the most vulnerable and needy families and appropriate beneficiary criteria are not met. Distribution lists were prepared immediately after the disaster, but at that time a number of people had not yet arrived in accessible areas. At the same time the access of people in cut off areas was difficult and not enough feeding points were established because of the long distances to be traveled so that distances are far. In addition problems were encountered in the registration of risk groups particular orphans, who are not considered as households. Furthermore there is a lack of monitoring by the CPU of areas; population groups and amounts of food aid delivered due to the fact that assisting organizations do not have to report on their activities. No special food to vulnerable groups like children under five was distributed.

Some areas in Chipinge (Nyoni, Mapungwana) are still not readily accessible with vehicles, therefore people are asked to come to the feeding points. This causes major problems because of the distances to be travelled and it is not certain that children, who are not able to come to the feeding points, will profit from the food aid.

Food for work: The willingness of farmers to participate in food for work programs, to increase food security and reconstruct infrastructure, is very high, in particular in Chimanimani were farmers are highly dependent on the infrastructure for crop and fruits marketing. The Rural District Council in Chipinge received official requests from a number of wards for this kind of projects. The difficult access to markets resulted in the farmers preferring to receive food instead of cash. Food should be delivered as grain instead of maize meal since it is easier to store and processing facilities are available. Due to the uncertainty of weather conditions and consequently expected harvest families prefer food for work projects instead of grain loan schemes, since in the past they were very often not able to pay back the grain loans due to low harvests.

MIDLANDS PROVINCE

Mberengwa and Mvuma Districts

Red Cross, Christian Care and the CPU classified beneficiaries for Food Aid, according to the damages and losses to their homesteads and fields they experienced the following groups were being used:

54 I Families who lost houses, granaries and fields II Families whose houses were partially destroyed III Families who lost their houses but have a regular income

In Mataga 36 families in category I as well as 51 and 133 families in category II and III respectively were identified by the CPU. The different groups were receiving different quantities of food aid as follows:

Qty per person Sources Frequency Group I II III Type of food Maize meal 30 kg 15kg 10kg Red Cross 1 Beans 1kg 1kg 1kg Cooking Oil 750ml 330ml 220ml Churches 1 Karpenta 3kg 2kg 2kg Christian Care 2 Salt 1kg 1kg 1kg Local Communities 1

According to the organizations the items above were distributed, but farmers indicated that they received, 50kg maize grain and Z$250 from the CPU or 2 bags (100kg) grain maize, 750 ml cooking oil, 500g karpenta, 250g salt and 400g beans for three months. This is much lower to the planned food distribution.

Obviously food insecure people who lost their houses and fields received sufficient food until May 2000. Red Cross or Christian Aid afterwards does not guarantee the supply due to lack of donations.

The main problems experienced in the distribution of Food Aid indicated by Red Cross and Christian Care were the lack of availability of vehicles and fuel. The various organizations were not well coordinated among themselves. Some food and non-food emergency aid was put on hold, while waiting for go ahead from headquarters. In Mataga (Mberengwa) Red Cross could not distribute the available items, since they had to wait for the arrival of the president of Red Cross of Zimbabwe. In all districts, organizations and beneficiaries pointed out the problem of targeting of beneficiaries with food aid. The process of registering was done at the beginning in order to supply food to the most needy households, but lists were not up dated later on. Beneficiaries expressed their concerns about the transparency in the distribution in terms of equal distribution amongst the most affected households and lack of information on the period of food deliveries. Some people had the wrong perception of food aid, that of it must compensate them for all their losses.

Food for work: There is willingness by some farmers to participate in Food for Work, but since most of the farmers did not loose their entire harvest and the labour is still needed to work on the fields the risk is high that fields are going to be abandoned, if the food ratios are higher than what people will harvest from their own fields

55 6.7 Health Trend Implications for Nutrition and Water supply

After natural disasters like flooding, the main diseases, which are expected to increase, are Malaria, Diarrhea and Cholera. This is mainly due to the change of climate, damages to supplies of safe drinking water and sanitary infrastructure. These diseases have a high impact on the nutrition and health situation of the population.

MANICALAND PROVINCE

Chimanimani Malaria is a seasonal disease in Zimbabwe with peaks from February to April. According to information obtained from the Chimanimani district health offices there was an increase in Malaria cases since the onset of the cyclone. A total of 2737 cases were reported for the month of February. Also an increase in Diarrhea cases (total number 406) was reported due to the lack of safe drinking water and lack of sanitary facilities caused by the damages to a large number of toilets. Up to the end of March about 18 people died due to Diarrhea (4) and Malaria (14) in Chimanimani district.

An increase in these diseases was also reported in Chipinge since the onset of the cyclone Table 6.7.1 shows the occurrence of these disease for the most affected wards below. Nevertheless no data after February were available at the time of the mission. Therefore the data only give a general picture on the incidence of malaria and diarrhea in the province, but do not indicate any increase due to the cyclone. Furthermore for both districts numbers of malaria cases are very high and need to be verified. In both districts there was no report on the increase in Cholera cases. Table 6.7.1: Occurrence of diarrhoea and malaria in Chipinge and Chimanimani February 2000 Gumira Mutema Chechecke Chipangayi Chinyamukwakwa Diarrhoea 27 60 11 76 57 Malaria 1310 266 218 192 1041

In Chimanimani three rural health centers, two hospitals and one clinic were partly damaged. Damages ranged from removed roofs, collapsed toilets, damaged water pipes and damaged staff houses. Due to the extend of the damages the health centers were functioning with a limited capacity. Drugs and part of the equipment were completely or partly destroyed. In Chipinge the floods affected seven hospitals.

The majority of water points in Chimanimani and Chipinge were either washed away or submerged by floods making water unsafe for human consumption. A large part of the households are now resorting to drinking contaminated river water. In Chimanimani 25 boreholes, 12 deep wells and 18 shallow wells were damaged as well as contaminated and need to be repaired or replaced. No reliable numbers for Chipinge were available during the time of the mission

56 MIDLANDS PROVINCE

Mberengwa/ Mvuma

The district health officer indicated a slight increase in diseases such as malaria and diarrhoea, but no figures were available at the time of mission. Due to the increased rainfall it can be expected that the malaria cases will increase. Three health centres were partly damaged with the worst affected one being Mnene Mission Hospital serving a catchment population of 288 000. The water supply system is heavily damaged and the hospital currently operates without safe water supply. In Mvuma there were no specific increases in diseases reported from the health centres and the District Medical office.

The damages to water supplies were limited. Apart from the damage to the water supply of Mnene mission, two water supplies were damaged. The supply of drinking water is therefore not significantly affected. However for individual communities the walking distance to the nearest boreholes or wells is about 4 km.

6.7.1 Nutritional status The mission took place five to six weeks after the disaster. It was too early to accurately assess the impact on nutrition and the change in the malnutrition rate. However no comprehensive data later than January were available at the time of the mission.

Additionally it needs to be noted that data only show the nutritional status of children under the age of five, who attended the weighing at the health centres. Malnutrition is measured in children under five years of age as wasted by using the weight for age indicator.

On average in Manicaland 7.4% of children under five are wasted with 8.4 % in Chipinge and 7.6 % Chimanimani. Additionally Chimanimani reported 17 cases of kwashiorkor.

The percentage of wasted children for affected districts in Chipinge (see table below) indicate that the nutrition status varies significantly within the district and highest malnutrition rates were found in Gumira and Chinyamukwakwa, which are also the most flood affected wards. These findings show that these areas are highly vulnerable to food insecurity and malnutrition even in ‘normal’ years. Table 6.7.2: Percentage of wasted children in most affected wards in Chipinge. Gumira Mutema Checheche Chipangayi Chinyamukwakwa Wasted 19.5 N/A 2 6.6 9.4 Kwashiokor 2 0 4 1 3 Source: MOHCW, provincial nutrition officer

The average malnutrition rate for Midlands is with 5.2% lower than in Manicaland. However also in here the districts with the highest percentage of malnutrition compared within the province are the most affected areas by the cyclone and need to be regarded as vulnerable to food insecurity and malnutrition.

57 Table 6.7.3: Percentage of wasted children in Midlands (January 2000) Mberengwa Mvuma Shurugwi Gweru Zvishavane Kwekwe Total Wasted 9.6 6.3 4.9 3.0 3.9 3.7 5.2 Source: MOHCW, Nutrition Unit

6.8 Markets and prices Table 6.8.1: Summary of types of food items sold and their prices in wards visited District Ward(s) visited Food sold and prices Chimanimani Ngorima A: Bananas @ Z$ 2.00/kg or Z$36.00 /crate; sugar cane @ Z$5.00 /cane.

Nyanyadzi: Information not captured.

Village 11in Shinja Goats @ Z$500-600; cattle @ Z$4000-5000, maize resettlement. grain @ Z$100-120 / bucket; honey sold to nearby honey ‘factory.’ Vegetables (onions, cabbages and covo) sold at gardens. Chipinge Ward 22 of Gumira area: Maize grain @ Z$70 –80 / 17kg bucket; sugar beans @ Z$22.00 /tea mug, leafy vegetables @ Z$ 2.00 per small bundle (about 6 leaves) and sweet potatoes @ Z$50.00 / heaped 20 litre tin; goats @ Z$700-800.

Ward 28 of Chinyamukwakwa Leafy vegetables @ $10.00/bundle, bananas, maize : grain from Z$60.00 / bucket Mberengwa Ward 2 of Chingoma area Maize grain at nearby (within 5km) business center (Mataga) @ Z$80.00 / 17kg bucket. Mvuma Mapiravana ward Maize grain @ Z$90-120 / bucket; goats @ Z$600- 700; oranges, guavas Source: vendors and villagers in visited areas. (1US$ = Z$38, April 2000)

In Chimanimani district buyers of fruits, (bananas at the time of visit) come as far as Bulawayo. The farmers sell their produce as a co-operative and in most cases they do so through middlemen who come to collect the fruits from the area.

Chinyamukwakwa business centre in Chipinge district is within 1-8kilometres of Ward 28 residents’ reach. At the time of the visit, maize grain, vegetables (tomatoes, onions and cabbage) and some bananas were being sold at the open market. Prices of vegetables had generally gone up compared to the start of the season. For example the price of an average sized cabbage had gone up from Z$5.00 to Z$10.00 / head and other leafy vegetables from Z$5.00 to Z$10.00 a bundle This is generally the case with vegetable prices as the cost of production is high during the rainy season due to high incidence of pests and diseases. Some fruits sold at Chinyamukwakwa centre come all the way from Rusitu valley.

Food items marketed in ward 22 of Gumira were from the nearby Musikavanhu irrigation scheme.

58 Passing through the Bumba Honey processing unit revealed that some villagers in Shinja resettlement area sold honey (in combs) to the Bumba Honey Association. (The association processes and re-sells pure honey at Z$ 38.00 / 375ml container).

Livestock, especially cattle, are rarely sold. However due to food shortages in cyclone affected areas, more livestock than usual are likely to be sold in order to access food. There was no significant difference in commodity prices before and after the cyclone probably because the time lag between setting in of the cyclone and the impact assessment exercise was short. Grain prices may not increase significantly given that the commodity is becoming more available in non-affected neighbouring areas (from the 1999/00 harvest).

Nearby shops in most affected areas had food items such as kapenta, macimbi and mealie-meal in stock. In Rusitu valley where, even under normal circumstances, only 40% of the households meet their grain requirements from own production, damages to infrastructure will have an impact on the delivery of food (mealie-meal in particular) to the area. In fact, supplies of mealie meal had gone down, by the time the area was visited, due to inaccessible roads. Prices could go up as a result of the reduced supplies.

The general increase in nominal food prices is a threat to food security in the face of cyclone Eline effects, which have eroded the victims resource bases.

6.9 SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECTS

In Chimanimani eleven (11) deaths were reported in Shinja and Nyahode Resettlement, from landslides (7), drowning in bedroom (2), collapsed roof (1) and 2 missing and are assumed dead and 2 sustained fatal injuries.

A total of 101 households were moved (600 people) including a total of 20 households from Shinja ward. Five households were still living with relatives at the time of the mission.

In Chipinge 6 deaths were reported, and a total of 2 430 households completely lost their homesteads. About 500 households lost at least one structure. About 90 people were still given shelter at Gumira Primary School, a situation loathed by many who preferred to move in with relatives and come to the school for any relief aid.

The reasons for moving the families for both Chimanimani and Chipinge included: ¨ Water seepage into houses and covering floors to approximately 40 cm ¨ Homesteads were completely destroyed ¨ Arable lands were not suitable for rehabilitation after the damage by floods ¨ Mitigating against the affects of high risk zones.

Permanent household shelter fosters a sense of security and is a base for all socio- economic activities.

59 In Mberengwa, around Mataga area, 35 families of 261 people lost their houses and fields completely. Eight (8) of these families are still accommodated at Zvishavane Primary School. New land on higher ground had been allocated to 80% of the families. The district and ward authorities were able, so far, to obtain building materials such as cement and treated building poles from donations. The community will provide all local building materials such as bricks and thatching.

Although the victims in this category were given short-term relief on food, shelter is a basic requirement without which they feel very insecure to carry on with their livelihoods.

Also, 50 families of 275 people lost property and their croplands were washed away. The gainfully employed around Mataga growth point and Musume rural service centre (30 families of 82 people) also lost property. Therefore a total of 115 families with a population of 618 people were directly affected as a result of the breaching of Mundi- Mataga dam. A total of 1 307 houses were totally destroyed (National C.P.U. 2000)

The resource base of these households was affected negatively which will inevitably affect their entitlement to food security. Farmers will require seed and fertiliser assistance in the next planting season.

In Mvuma 3 lives were lost while 293 people were left homeless after their houses and huts had completely collapsed. It was mainly the houses which had been built on vleis using poor materials (unburned bricks/mud and poles) that collapsed. By the time of the visit families had been assisted with plastic sheeting (43) and tents (3) blankets (548) as a short-term measure. On observation it was mainly the poor whose houses/huts were destroyed (Mapirawana Ward). Some families were still cooking in the open because their kitchens were either destroyed or had cracks and water was still seeping through the floors and moulds were forming and were posing a health hazard. An old lady in Sundire village, in Mapirawana ward, with 4 grand children and nursing a terminally ill son had a 2 roomed house constructed by the community. From reports and interviews it was not clear how many people had lost houses/huts. A total of 2 237 houses/huts were reported completely collapsed. A kitchen/hut is a multipurpose structure used as a storage facility among other things.

All socio-economic activities are executed from a home, hence the need to assist the communities in rebuilding their homes.

6.9.1 Infrastructural Damages

The Cyclone Eline also left a trail of infrastructural destruction to the districts of Chimanimani and Chipinge, which at one stage made the socio-economic activities come to almost a standstill. The destruction was on causeways, roads, bridges, clinics, schools, dams and essential services were also affected. Tables 6.9.1 and 6.9.2 below shows the extent of damage to various infrastructures.

60 Table 6.9.1: Extent of Damages in Mberengwa and Mvuma Description Mberengwa Mvuma Total Deaths - 3 3 Injuries - 28 28 Homeless families 35 293 328 Destroyed houses /huts/granaries 2 114 2 145 4 268

Destroyed household toilets 846 588 1 434 Damaged schools 38 5 43 Clinics/Hospitals 3 1 4 Other Settlements 10 - 10 Damaged Diptanks 6 - 6 Damaged dams 7 5 12 Bridges 6 7 13 Water supplies 3 1 4 Community gardens 2 - 2 Irrigation Schemes - 2 2 Livestock 992 - 992 Source: Provincial Administrator Report March 2000

Table 6.9.2: Nature of Infrastructure Damages Bridge Road Name Nature of Damage Status Changadzi Mutare-Masvingo Approaches washed away Passable up to 25t Nyanyadzi Wengezi-Chimanimani Approaches washed away Closed backfilling of temporary structure Chipinge-Birchenough Road failure Closed detour Chipangayi -Tanganda Deck and abutment Closed detour washed away Nyautsa Ngundu-Tanganda Deck and abutment fell Closed detour off Chinhonzvi Ndungu-Tanganda Approaches washed away Open backfilling Umvumvu 3 - Approaches washes away - Sources: Department of Roads Report March 2000

Other public property damaged include: ¨ Causeways 10 ¨ Roads 720 km tarred and untarred ¨ Clinics 6 (Muchadziya, Ngorima, Chikukwa, Biriiri, Nyanyadzi, Bumba) ¨ Schools 15

Essential facilities which were also affected include telecommunication and electricity lines. At the time of the mission, some temporary measures were being taken by the communities to improve the situation.

The destruction has great socio-economic impact on access to markets for inputs and outputs, employment and access to social services.

61 At the time of the study most of the roads were inaccessible and sawn timber could not be marketed to the outside world. The two districts in particular Chimanimani is endowed with various fruits. The fruit rot if they are not transported out of the districts depriving many people of their livelihoods. In Rusitu valley (Ngorima A and B) they were concerned about the affected markets for their fruit. The situation had reduced their food entitlement through loss of income.

The estates and companies were said to be operating below half capacity. Most workers were suspended or forced to go on unpaid leave.

The destruction of bridges and roads also affected the health referral system. The situation should be given attention if food security is to be enhanced.

6.10 CONLUSIONS FOR MANICALAND AND MIDLANDS

Household Food Security for the cyclone affected areas is threatened both in the short to long term periods. Most households had no food stocks at the time of the survey and were already surviving on food aid from government, NGOs and other well wishers. Cyclone victims also received some tents for temporary shelter, kitchen utensils and blankets. Problems of poor targeting and transportation of emergency aid items were cited.

Due to excessive crop losses, the affected households will not be able to meet their major food requirements up to the next harvest from own production. In addition, many families lost livestock to the floods further eroding the families’ ability to access food through sales. Livestock losses (cattle and donkeys in particular) will impact on next season's agricultural output in that draft power will be in short supply. Quantity of manure will also be reduced. Animal health (for those animals that survived) is threatened as a result of the damage to the dip-tanks as well as the increased incidence of other non-tick borne diseases. The extent of damage to irrigation schemes is such that, it will take time to rehabilitate them. Hence households dependent on irrigation will be food insecure for quite sometime.

The damage to "public" infrastructure has had and will continue to have negative impact on the general livelihoods of the affected households. In as far as food and agriculture are concerned, marketing of fruits in areas such as Rusitu valley was affected. Marketing of other produce such as timber grain and cotton will also be hindered and so will the acquisition of agricultural inputs for next season. Bad roads and damaged bridges are also affecting the transportation of emergency aid to the intended beneficiaries.

The timber industry has been badly affected with estimated losses equivalent to a year's harvest.

The destruction of telecommunications and electricity lines disrupted communication and operations such as running of sawmill factories. This resulted, among other things, in temporary loss of jobs.

62 6.11 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MANICALAND AND MIDLANDS

In view of the findings of the mission the following overall recommendations can be given. These can be divided into immediate and medium to long term recommendations.

Immediate recommendations

· Food for work programmes are recommended as measures to provide food aid and reconstruct infrastructure must be implemented in the affected areas · The repair of roads, bridges and other infrastructure must be given high priority to facilitate the access of affected population to social services like clinics and schools and marketing of remaining crops and fruits in particular in the districts of Chipinge and Chimanimani · It is recommended to provide the affected households with agricultural inputs for the next 2000/2201 growing season to enable their quick agricultural recovery. The timeliness of delivery, proper targeting of the beneficiaries and the appropriateness of the packs to the agro- ecological regions affected must be ensured. AGRITEX and ZFU have experience in this field and they are capable of assisting in the distribution. of the packs · In those areas like Chipinge and Chimanimani where fruit tress were destroyed a provision of young fruit trees adapted to the affected areas is recommended. · Provision of livestock drugs and vaccines to the affected areas to combat the increased incidence of diseases which have been brought about by the excessive rains · For those farmers already re-building their homesteads they must be advised against settling or cropping in risky low-lying areas and riverbanks. The households must be provided with assistance in the form of building materials like cement blocks, timber and asbestos roofing sheets. · Immediate reconstruction of the damaged irrigation schemes, small earth dams and nutritional gardens, which require minor repairs, must be done immediately to enable the communities to start farming again. The schemes and gardens are important for food security and as sources of nutrition · The food security, nutritional status and health in the affected areas need to be closely monitored as it is expected to deteriorate in the coming month. The development of a community based surveillance should be considered and training to community health workers and community members should be provided; · Awareness campaigns for malaria, cholera diarrhoea in the flooded areas should be held to avoid the spread of these diseases.

Medium to long term recommendations

· There is need for the government to establish disaster preparedness and management structures prepared to handle natural disasters like floods at the community level. The CPU has structures at provincial and district levels but there is nothing at farmer or ward level. · Training programmes and multilevel public information systems must be formulated and implemented by the relevant authorities to target people at all levels on topics like

63 disaster roundup and preparedness, risks of settling and farming in risky areas, flood mitigation, monitoring and management. · Rehabilitation of irrigation schemes and dams with major damages and explore the development of new schemes. · Elaborate new technologies on water harvesting and conservation. In some cases these technologies are normally more appropriate and cheaper to install or repair if damaged by natural disasters like floods · Reconstruction and introduction of improved storage facilities must be implemented · Livestock restocking programmes concentrating on cattle, goats and sheep must be intensified to increase the livestock availability in the affected provinces. · Reconstruction of damaged livestock infrastructure like dips, fencing and holding pens. · Encourage the growing, processing and consumption of small grains like sorghum and millet, which are less prone to water logging in comparison to maize. · Asses the possibilities of introducing small scale fruit processing and preservation technologies in some of the fruit producing areas like Chipinge and Chimanimani. The processing and preservation will add value to the products and farmers are able to increase their income. This will support them o cover up for the losses they experienced during and after the floods.

64 7 MASVINGO AND MATABELELAND SOUTH

Figure 7.1: Effect on Crops and Livestock PROVINCE DISTRICT COMMUNAL POPULATION CHILDREN CROPPED AREA IN CATTLE SHEEP/G AREAS (HA) OATS TOTAL AFFECTED UNDER FIVES TOTAL AFFECTE TOTAL DEATHS TOTAL (Est.) (est.) D Masvingo Chiredzi Sengwe 25818 4424 2634 24552 12 40131 Mwenezi Maranda 63232 1273 52176 21616 16479 10 16768 Matibi 1 68704 4631 Combined Combined 17810 3 31541 Matabelelan Beitbridge Chipise 6170 2675 530 200 7443 21 21914 d South Mtetengwe 33545 21098 3935 25% 13263 108 30277 Diti 16351 9532 1472 25% 4702 26 11302 Maramani 3550 2757 2631 25% 3110 12 9916 Masera 3771 956 239 25% 6871 4 14829 5349 1025 210 25% 4350 16 16679 Siyoka/ 17405 7985 1730 25% 10242 33 17186 Dendele 9487 1372 271 25% 2 River Ranch 823 Resettlement Bulilimamangw Ramakwebana 203573 27489 5515 Yield Reduction 20 e Maphoengs Combined Combined Combined Combined Raditladi Semukwe Ngulube Brunapeg Source: Field Information and FEWS Archive

7.1 MASVINGO

The worst affected districts are Zaka, with 80,3 % if the arable land either washed away or water logged; Mwenezi (42.6)% and Chivi (38.6) % (table 7.1.2). Other districts affected in order of percentage destroyed (waterlogged or washed away) are Bikita (16.4%), Gutu (10.7%) and Masvingo (10.4%). Table 7.1. gives the Provincial and district cropped area per crop, total hectarage, and estimated production before floods (tonnes per district and tonnes per crop for the province). Land planted to maize was the highest affected, with 8.6% of the total cropped area in the province either swept away of water-logged (table 7.1.3).

65 Table 7.1.1: Hectarage and production per crop per District and the Province before floods Crop area Maize Sorghum Mhunga Rapoko G/nuts Cotton S/flower Beans Total (Ha) & yield (ton) Bikita 36830 3185 4380 5521 10890 5538 2330 63 687277 (32787) 1853 2102 2815 9474 41 Chiredzi 108252 14015 802 128 1278 1288 437 1262000 (75591) (8409) (64) (77) (695) (174) Chivi 37958 10010 2445 2745 20639 2887 3935 81056 (75296) (18018) (978) (833) (30270) Gutu 54737 4582 6681 12000 16831 246 895 3025 98997 (44692) (2066) (2505) (5600) (10435) (1714) Masvingo 33730 290 183 6581 11830 3097 320 40 56071 (26935) (123) (82) (263) (7886) (12) Mwenezi 14213 12300 10234 436 7957 5153 1433 450 50743 (8527) (6150) (4298) (152) (10741) (135) Zaka 28545 424 301 4175 8000 3800 323 725 39093 (45572) (305) (135) (2066) (432) (725) TOTAL 314265 44806 25026 31587 77425 22009 9226 4740 502532 Ha TOTAL TONS 309602 36925 10165 11798 69935 2803 Ave. yield/ha 0.99 0.82 0.41 0.37 0.9 0.59

Table 7.1.2: Percentage of crop hectarage to Provincial cropped area Crop Hectarage Percentage (%)

Maize 314265 60.4 Sorghum 44806 8.6 Mhunga 18345 3.5 Rapoko 31587 6.1 Groundnuts 77475 14.9 Sunflower 9226 1.8 Cotton 22025 4.2 Beans 4740 0.9

66 Table 7.1.3: Crop hectarage affected (washed away & waterlogged) per crop per District Maize Sorghum Mhunga Rapoko G/nuts Cotton S/flower Beans Sub-total Bikita Washed away 170 25 20 36 78 15 17 344 (-0.5%) Waterlogged 7685 370 275 185 1450 502 460 10930 (-15.9%) Chiredzi Washed away 4173 4744 321 52 445 869 97 18796 (-14.9%) Chivi Waterlogged 8000 2000 400 400 1800 1000 1500 15000 (-18.6%) Less than 16211 ha(>20%) were washed away Gutu Washed away 3340 1200 5050 49 113 836 10588 (-10.7%) Masvingo Waterlogged 3485 94 8 170 770 1248 51 21 5846 (-10.4%) Mwenezi Washed away 1400 1200 1000 796 520 4916 (-99.7%) Waterlogged 6400 2400 2000 3580 2320 16700 (-32.9%) Zaka Waterlogged 19000 2500 6500 3000 31000 (-79.3%) About 391 ha (1%) were washed away

The figure in percentage in brackets represents the total district area affected by either waterlogging or that swept away.

Table 7.1.4: Provincial hectarage and percentage of waterlogged / washed-away per crop per crop area Waterlogged (Ha) Percentage(%) Washed-away (Ha) Percentage (%) Total % affe Maize 44570 14.4 9083 2.9 17.3 Sorghum 4864 13.2 5969 16.2 29.4 Rapoko 755 6.4 1288 12.7 19.1 Mhunga 5186 51 1341 13.2 64.2 Groundnuts 14100 20.2 6369 9.1 29.3 Cotton 8070 36.7 9548 43.3 80 Sunflower 2011 21.8 227 2.5 24.3 Beans 21 0.8 836 29.8 30.6 Total 79577 34434

The waterlogged area is 15.3% of the 1999/2000 cropped area whilst the washed away area is 6.6%. The worst affected crop is maize consisting of total or 8.6% (44570/520531) of the total provincial cropped area affected by either waterlogging or being swept away. Cotton has the highest hectarage affected (80%) per crop area.

67 Table 7.1.5: Estimated Production per crop per District and the Province after floods Crop production Sorghum Mhunga Rapoko G/nuts (ton) Bikita 14732 956 876 1104 3267 Chiredzi 37841 5232 31 28 127 Chivi 42812 12012 734 824 19230 Gutu 25452 1723 2004 2612 7305 Masvingo 16865 110 23 115 4231 Mwenezi 4619 2768 1044 1194 Zaka 28545 106 75 1044 432 Total tons 170866 22907 4766 5727 35786 Total loss (tons) 138736 14018 5399 6071 34149 % loss 44.9 38 53 51.5 48.9

The yield reduction due to floods is given in Table 7.1.4. The waterlogged crop given in table 7.1.2 & 7.1.3 was reaching maturity in most Districts hence the salvage percentage per crop was quite significant. Mhunga and Rapoko had the highest yield reduction, 53.3% and 51.5% respectively.

The other district related information such as number of granaries destroyed, inaccessible areas, livestock destroyed etc, can be obtained from the district reports sent to you earlier.

7.2 CHIREDZI DISTRICT

1.GENERAL INFORMATION

Province : : CHIREDZI WARDS AFFECTED WARDS VISITED AREAS VISITED 12,13,14,15 13&15 Pahlela, Malipati Centre Magogogwe Chishinga, Mikani A total of 104 households out of a total of 1,282 households’ homes were completely washed away along Malibhangwe, Mawodze, Mwenezi, Limpopo Rivers and their tributaries. As more areas become accessible the numbers might increase.

68 Table 7.2.1: Affected Wards and villages in Chiredzi district WARD VILLAGE HOMESTEAD WASHED TOTAL NO. OF POPULATION AWAY HOUSEHOLDS 15 Mhikani 2 147 10080 Hlarwimi 9 268 Vusani 27 71 Tsakani 12 160 Mangezi 10 126 Chishinga 40 245 Tihlo 3 70 13 Masukwe 1 195 14 Mupahle INACCESSIBLE Kotswi INACCESSIBLE Sengwe INACCESSIBLE · Average household size is 7 people · Out of the 14 communal area wards of the district, four wards were affected by cyclone Eline. · Fifty percent of the population’s food security depends on crop production while the other half depend on livestock and other sources (Remittances from South Africa) · 6 people died, due to drowning (5) and malaria (1)

2. CROP PRODUCTION Cropping is practised along riverine areas where there is moisture and soil fertility is high. This enables the families to grow two crops per year along Limpopo River Banks. The cropped land washed away is shown in the table below. Table 7.2.2: Affected households and crop areas

WARD VILLAGE HOUSEHOLDS AFFECTED CROPPED AREA AFFECTED 15 Mhandanwari 96 192ha Mhikani 93 186ha Tsakiani 106 159ha Hlarwini 66 140ha Mangezi 126 500ha Chishinya 89 178ha Vusani 27 50ha Tihlo 29 29ha Kotswi, 1200 ha Mupande and Sengwe

· Average area under cultivation is 3-5 ha per households with 75% of the area cultivated annually. The whole cropped area was completely washed away i.e. crops uprooted, as the rivers burst banks. In addition, the flowing waters

69 carried topsoil away with sand being deposited in some arable lands. Crops which were washed away include maize, sorghum, groundnuts and cucumbers. Due to persistent rains there was poor grain formation. In addition, grain yield was further reduced by bird damage. In low lying areas and areas with heavy soils, water logging reduced crop growth while in areas with sand soils there was heavy leaching. The yields of sorghum variety sv2 was reduced by (0.3t/ha), due to poor pollination bird damage and stalk borer effects while the traditional variety “Gangara” will produce a better harvest. · Maize varieties grown in the area include SC 201, SC401, SC403, SC501.The average yields of maize is 0.8 which have been reduced to 0.3t/ha due to water logging, leaching etc. Most crops were washed away at early reproductive stage.

3.IRRIGATION

Table 7.2.3: Damages to Irrigation Schemes NAME OF WARD/VILLAGE NATURE OF DESTRUCTION ESTIMATED SCHEME COST Gudo Ward 1 (Sangwe) Pump house and diesel engine 1,000,000.00 submerged St. Josephs Ward 2 (Sangwe) Pump house and diesel engine 1,000,000.00 submerged Dandara Ward 2 (Sangwe) Pump house and Electric motors 2,500,000.00 submerged Tshovani Ward 3 (Sangwe) Pump house and Electric motors 6,000,000.00 submerged Rupangwan Ward 4 (Sangwe) Pump house and Diesel Engine 2,000,000.00 a submerged Chilonga Ward 7 (Matibi 2) Pump house and Diesel Engine 3,000,000.00 submerged Malikango Ward 11 (Matibi 2) Pump house and Diesel Engine 3,500,000.00 submerged Muraba Ward 11 (Matibi 2) Pump house and Diesel Engine 600,000.00 submerged Manjinji Ward 15 (Sangwe) Lands and canals flooded 500,000.00 Magogogwe Ward 15 (Sangwe) Engines, lands and canals flooded 2,000,000.00 Total 22,100,000.00 In these dry agro ecological zones, irrigation is an important source of food. In the Magogwe irrigation scheme visited, there was evidence of poor plant stand and lack of weeding due to accessibility problems.

4.LIVESSTOCK

Chiredzi District has 60 000 herd of cattle in the communal area with 20 000 cattle in Sengwe communal area. A total of 120 cattle were washed away from Sengwe C.A. with 11 cattle being washed away in Chishinya and Mhikani village. In addition 118 goats,

70 518 chickens and two donkeys were washed away. The cattle holding for the affected area is 5-10 cattle per household.

5. EMERGENCY FOOD AID.

The emergency food aid has mainly been provided by World Vision International and the Government’s Civil Protection Unit. The two organizations have shared areas in which they are distributing food. The rations being given out by World Vision is different from that by the CPU. Ration per person per month: ITEM WORLD VISION CPU Maize meal (Kg) 15 10 Cooking Oil (ml) 750 750 Beans (Kg) 1 - Salt (Kg per HH) 1 -

· Food donations for CPU were being stored at Chishinya school without being distributed to the intended beneficiaries. World Vision intends to give food to people in the affected areas for 3 months starting in March and they have already provided food for the month of April. The ration provided by WVI is more than that provided by CPU. Other NGO’s working in the area include Life Sowing Ministries, Seventh Day Adventist. Various other organizations donated food to the area through the CPU. The food being distributed is however not enough to feed all the needy people until the next harvest. World Vision traditionally assists in development projects but had to shelve them for a while in order to assists with feeding the affected people. They would however like to concentrate on development projects if other organisations can take over feeding the affected people.

6. HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY

The food security of the affected households were WVI is operating is adequately being met, but they are only feeding in ward 15 and part of ward 13. Ward 14 (which is still inaccessible because of broken bridges) and other affected wards are not being fed. The food available from CPU is adequate up to April. Households, which have their own grain, are also being given maize meal due to the unavailability of diesel to run grinding mills in the rural areas. In normal years, grain traders come as far as Zaka and Masvingo to sell grain at the Malipati BC at ($120per 20l tin) Z$7000/tonne. Families which own livestock, especially cattle which is sold at $16000 and goats at $700 - $1000 per beast (price influenced by Mozambican buyers) can purchase their own food from sources such as GMB Chiredzi or private grain traders. Some families who lost their livestock had their coping mechanisms disrupted, since the livestock was an important source of income with which the people would use to buy grains.

71 7. EARLY WARNING

The information on the impending Cyclone was passed out but people did not take it seriously. However, the method of warning people was not effective. Messages were broadcast on radio, yet not many people in the rural areas own radios. In addition, people did not take heed of the warning because they had not experienced a flood in the recent past although some experiences occurred in 1957 in the area when minor flooding occurred.

8. NATURAL RESOURCES Twenty households have totally relocated to higher ground because they had their homes totally destroyed by the floods. These people, including those who had part of their homes destroyed, are mainly using local timber to construct homes. The cutting of local timber will lead to natural resource degradation in the area. In addition, timber is also being obtained 10-15km away especially Mopani trees which are said to provide strong building poles. Besides the above 20 households, 98 households are also rebuilding washed away structure resulting in more timber being cut from the natural forests. The soils in the area are highly prone to erosion resulting in a lot of gully formation occurring within the area. The available grazing is abundant and adequate for the livestock.

9. RECOMMENDATIONS

9.1 Immediate recommendations: Maize seed is required by farmers in Ward 13 to plant along the Limpopo River as water recedes to normal flow. Discourage households building on low-lying areas Provide households with timber, cement blocks and asbestos roofing sheets to minimise deforestation

9.2 Medium to long term: a. Input packs for the coming 2000/2001 season including maize, sorghum, groundnuts, cowpeas, and round-nuts. b. Food for work program to rehabilitate destroyed infrastructure and make food available c. Livestock restocking concentrating on cattle and goats/sheep. d. Rehabilitation and development of irrigation schemes e. Rehabilitation of nutrition gardens f. Improved food storage

72 7.3 MWENEZI DISTRICT

Province: Masvingo District: Mwenezi

General Information

The worst affected communal areas were Maranda and Matibi 1. The following wards in each C.A. were affected.

C.A. Wards affected Visited Areas

Maranda 9 - 11 - 12 -

Matibi 1 1 - 3 3 4 –

Table 7.3.1: Population in Mwenezi district and affected people.

Ward Population Households Affected people 1 11,831 2,177 800 2 10,052 1,476 472 3 10,558 1,902 704 4 8,487 1,423 526 5 8,601 1,508 560 6 8,349 1,356 884 7 10,826 1,852 685 8 20,887 2,390 1054 9 9,781 1,685 623 10 8,908 1,624 1400 11 12,852 2,068 12 10,804 1,757 650 Total 131,936 21,218 8,358 Note Ward 8 combines Wanezi Resettlement Scheme Ward 10 combine Wedza Resettlement Scheme

The affected people had crops that were washed away, along and its tributaries, or water logged and livestock which was washed away. The average household size is 7 people.

73 Crop Production

The major effect of cyclone Eline in this district was water logging and leaching. These effects occurred at various stages of maize crop growth as shown below:

Stage Percentage Vegetative 10 Reproductive 60 Late reproductive 20 Maturity 10

The major crop being grown in this area is cotton than maize. The total cropped land and expected yields before and after cyclone are as shown in the Table below. The cotton production has become more important than maize production. Before the cyclone farmers had made two cotton pickings whilst the subsequent pickings were affected resulting in yield losses. Table 7.3.2: Crop damages and loss in yields Crop Hectares Expected Waterlogged Washed Total Affected Yields Yields % Loss Planted Harvest (Ha) Away Affected as % of Before After in Yield Before (Ha) (Ha) Total (Kgs/Ha) (Kgs/Ha)

Maize 14,213 8,527 6,400 1,400 7,800 55 620 310 50 Sorghum 12,300 6,150 2,400 1,200 3,600 29 500 225 55 Mhunga 10,234 4,298 2,000 1,000 3,000 29 400 100 75 Rapoko 436 152 0 0 400 100 75 Ground- 7,957 10,741 3,580 796 4,376 55 748 132 82 nuts Cotton 5,153 2,320 520 2,840 55 700 500 29 Sun- 1,433 0 0 flower Beans 450 135 0 0 52,176 16,700 4,916 21,616 41

Irrigation

There were no major damages to irrigation schemes in the district. Dinhe irrigation scheme had 150m of main line washed away and Christian Care will repair the damages.

Livestock

Maranda C.A. is more dependent on livestock production than Matibi1. Livestock losses in the shown table below

74 Table 7.3.3: The livestock in Mwenezi district Ward Village Donkeys Goats Fowls Cattle 2 Chinyani 5 8 18 Marufu 9 3 Matande 6 3 Mushezhavet 5 11 5 a 6 Bhasiskiti 3 8 Pikimini 4 Chikwalala 20 Chinezhara 10 16 10 Ndwamba 1 Macebo 49 92 Muzvondiwa 1 20 2 Majoni Muchena 6 22 2 Nyongoro 3 20 2 Mapfumo 2 9 45 Chaya Timire Sibangwa 2 1 Mzetese Macala 5 Mapolisa Mzola 3 Sidakwa 11 Total 38 209 167 13 Cost per 2,000 800 120 10,000 Animal (Z$) Total Loss 76,000 167,200 20,040 130,00 (Z$) 0 Total Loss for District 393,24 (Z$) 0

Emergency Food Aid

The district received no emergency food aid after the cyclone. NGOs working in the district include Christian care, Red Cross and Africare. Christian Care is providing food mainly to their congregation, while Red Cross is providing food to the wards that they have already been operating in, Africare is investing in income generating projects such as oil extraction.

Effect of the cyclone in the district was mainly water-logging and leaching which will reduce yields, but the effects of the cyclone do not warrant any emergency intervention.

75 Household Food Security

The district has farmers selling grain in local markets at $50/bucket before cyclone and at $60-80/bucket in mid-March after the cyclone at Sarauro and business centre. Traders have been moving grain to Beitbridge but this has stopped after the cyclone. The grain sales are possibly from 1998/1999 season when the area had a bumper harvest. The low prices and the continued sale of grain indicate that there is food available in the district.

In the district, 252 granaries were destroyed due to cyclone Eline. The district has requested emergency food aid of 80.6 tonnes to feed a population of 859 people who might have problems to access food, particularly those who had their granaries washed away.

Various coping mechanisms to acquire food are employed in the districts. Among them are: (i) Selling of livestock (ii) Hiring out labour to other farmers for cotton picking and on large-scale commercial farming area. (iii) Income from cotton and irrigation crops

Early Warning

No early warning was carried out in the district.

Natural Resources

There was minimal effect on natural resources although erosion was reported along rivers, and waterways.

Recommendations:

1. Food for work programmes 2. Rehabilitation of Dinhe irrigation scheme. 3. Provision of drugs and to vaccines to reduce livestock deaths.

76 7.4 MATEBELELAND SOUTH PROVINCE

Table 7.4.1: Summary of affected people in Matabeleland South District Total Total affected % Affected Total Under fives Population Affected

Umzingwane 81484 4140 5.1 823 Bulilimamangwe 203303 33246 16.4 11246 Matobo 114594 10515 9.2 2380 Gwanda 159081 33394 21.0 12368 Insiza 99109 11301 11.4 5830 Beitbridge 103994 44489 42.8 11018 Total 761565 137085 18.0 43665

Table 7.4.2: Summary of Livestock and Granary Losses District Granaries Goats/Sheep Donkeys Cattle

Umzingwane 151 1286 102 163 Bulilimamangwe 34 30 3 Matobo 20 5532 165 222 Gwanda 317 1461 150 20 Insiza 71 20 4 8 Beitbridge 277 2922 176 774 Total 870 11251 597 1190

7.5 BULILIMAMANGWE DISTRICT (PLUMTREE)

PROVINCE: Matabeleland South DISTRICT: Bulilimamangwe AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONE: 4 and 5

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

The affected households were grouped by the province into four categories, which are:

(a) Category 1: Families whose homes were completely destroyed and need food and shelter (b) Category 2: Families whose homes were partly destroyed e.g. 1 or 2 huts out of 3 and require some shelter and food assistance (c) Category 3: Families who were affected but need minimal assistance. (d) Category 4: These include institutional and infrastructure damage.

77 Communal areas affected C.A. visited Population Ramakwebana Ramakwebana 203 573 Mphoenga Raditladi Raditladi Mphoeng Samukwe Ngulube Brumapeg Dombodema resettlement

Within the C.A’s and resettlement areas 22 wards were affected by the cyclone. For details of the affected wards see table below. The average size of a household in the district is 7 people. Table 7.5.1: Summary of affected population Ward Name Total Househ Total % of Affected Categories Total Total Huts Total Population olds Affected Population Under Destroyed Toilets Population Affected Fives Destroyed Category 1 Category 2 Households Population Households Population Empandeni 8,200 926 738 9 9 57 76 687 114 125 7 Magcobafuthi 7,500 913 1,966 26 123 852 208 1,114 377 222 23 Madabe 10,700 1,360 338 3 10 60 331 278 409 531 20 Raditladi 8,000 684 1,669 21 232 1,669 448 250 21 Mphoengs 7,000 1,115 355 5 48 355 47 47 4 Sanzukwe 8,100 1,072 3,693 46 314 2,572 177 1,121 1775 426 65 Sangulube 5,500 814 726 13 67 461 42 265 154 104 9 Maninji 5,600 855 1,669 30 232 1,669 448 250 21 Mambale 7,826 965 1,030 13 30 214 104 816 215 78 13 Bango 5,072 638 920 18 2 19 130 901 200 99 16 Tshankwa 5,506 840 917 17 2 18 140 899 172 100 17 Gwambe 5,409 876 641 12 5 27 133 614 143 153 17 Natane 6,100 911 86 1 1 9 11 77 24 14 Nyele 6,369 1,026 505 8 16 119 66 386 149 97 11 Matjinge 7,688 1,137 1,777 23 6 34 243 1743 223 28 5 Gala 5,620 800 0 Masendu 10,600 1,536 649 6 4 27 97 622 163 46 2 Ndolwane 6,941 1,067 294 4 1 2 142 292 12 4 Huwana 7,217 1,022 28 0 2 19 2 9 11 7 1 Makhulela 5,400 980 314 6 24 190 19 124 107 22 30 Madlambudzi 6,200 908 0 19 Malanswazi 5,700 823 612 11 47 292 45 320 117 25 25 Hingwe 6,630 918 0 Bambadzi 5,022 713 0 Dombodema 2,500 296 674 27 28 195 57 479 122 140 59 Dombodema 4,900 703 499 10 1 3 71 496 85 82 39 Plumtree Urban 6,850 1,533 0 Figtree 8,020 803 0 Marula 6,600 641 0 ADA Ranch 500 121 0 Izimnyama 630 71 0 Somnene 1,653 205 0 Mabhongana 7,020 217 0 Total 202,573 27,489 20,100 10 711 5,170 2,606 14,936 5,515 2,846 409

78 2. CROP SITUATION AFTER THE CYCLONE ELINE: BULILILAMANGWE DISTRICT

The affect on crop production cannot be ascribed totally to the effects of cyclone Eline but also due to the heavy rains, which occurred before the cyclone together with non- utilisation of manure and fertilisers on the sandy, soils prevalent in the area. In addition, late planting due to shortage of draft power, and pollen wash off causing poor pollination also resulted in reduced crop yields. These factors which caused a reduction in yields also affected other areas in some provinces where sandy soils predominate.

Crop Production

The incessant rains received due to the tropical cyclone Eline caused waterlogging to about 60% of the crop planted in the 1999 / 2000 season. This led to leaching of nutrients, yellowing of the crop, stunted growth and consequently reduction in yield levels. The late-planted crop was the severely affected. Yield reduction varied from 50 – 76%. The information on the crop situation is tabulated below according to AGRITEX team working zones. The most affected zones are Plumtree south, Plumtree near south and Dombodema. The land holding per family range from 2-5ha for dry land cropping and 0.2 – 1.0ha in irrigation schemes.

(1) Dombodema : ( Dombodema resettlement, Dombodema communal area and Nswazi communal area)

Crop estimated total (ha) estimated yield estimated loss in production area planted Late planted before the cyclone after the cyclone (%) Maize 1500 20 0.4t/ha 0.3t/ha 150t Sorghum 250 30 0.3t/ha 0.2t/ha 25t Mhunga 600 30 0.2t/ha 0.1t/ha 60t Groundnuts 200 nil 0.7t/ha 0.4t/ha 20t Edible beans 80 20 0.5t/ha 0.4t/ha 8t

Number of Households: 1930 Food situation: 60% of the households will have food up to August, 30% up to September and 10% up to the next harvest.

2. Ramakwebana CA Mpande

Crop estimated total (ha) estimated yield estimated loss in production area planted Late planted before the cyclone after the cyclone (%) Maize 390 15 0.3t/ha 0.2t/ha 39t Sorghum 610 10 0.2t/ha 0.1t/ha 61t Mhunga 680 10 0.08t/ha 0.05t/ha 204t Groundnuts 195 5 0.1t/ha 0.06t/ha 8t Edible beans 125 10 0.2t/ha 0.1t/ha 12t

79 Number of households: 3854 Food situation: 65% of the households will have food up to June, 20% up to August and 15% up to next harvest.

3 Plumtree South CA: (Emphanden, Zimnyama, Madabe, Tshitshi)

Crop estimated total (ha) estimated yield estimated loss in production area planted Late planted before the cyclone after the cyclone (%) Maize 820 15 0.2t/ha 0.1t/ha 82 Sorghum 2656 15 0.4t/ha 0.1t/ha 797t Mhunga 2320 10 0.4t/ha 0.1t/ha 696t Groundnuts 567 5 0.3t/ha 0.2t/ha 57t Edible beans 250 10 0.2t/ha 0.1t/ha 25t

Number of households: 6542 Food situation: 60% of the households will have food up to June, 25% up to August and 15% up to the next harvest.

4. Plumtree central: (wards: Bezu, Tshankwa, Gwambe, Somneve)

Crop estimated total (ha) estimated yield estimated loss in production area planted Late planted before the cyclone after the cyclone (%) Maize 1685 25 1.1t/ha 0.8t/ha 505t Sorghum 603 20 0.5t/ha 0.3t/ha 120t Mhunga 1683 20 0.5t/ha 0.3t/ha 336t Groundnuts 216 7 0.5t/ha 0.5t/ha nil Edible beans 28 nil 0.3t/ha 0.2t/ha 28

Number of households: 4440 Food situation: 55% of the households will have food up to July/August, 20% up to October and 25% up to next harvest.

5. Madlambudzi CA

Crop estimated total (ha) estimated yield estimated yield estimated loss in production area planted Late planted before the cyclone after the cyclone (%)

Maize 3620 15 1.0t/ha 0.8t/ha 1086t Sorghum 3050 15 0.7t/ha 0.5t/ha 305t Mhunga 3500 15 0.8t/ha 0.5t/ha 1050t Groundnuts 60 15 06t/ha 0.5t/ha 6t Edible beans 10 10 0.3t/ha 0.2t/ha 1t

80 Number of households: 3975 Food situation: 45% of the households will have food up to July / August, 35% up to October/November and 20% up to the next harvest.

LIVESTOCK

There were no reports of livestock washed away but there was an increase in diseases associated with excessive rains such as tick borne, three day stiff sickness and foot-rot, these diseases resulted in deaths of livestock which were recorded as of mid-March 2000. The reported livestock deaths are as follows:

Species Deaths Cattle 20 Sheep/Goats 1461 Donkeys 150

However, the above figures may be an overestimate as field checking revealed that no livestock were reported dead. The deaths in this district were not caused directly by Cyclone Eline but mostly due to after effects of excessive rains, such as foot-rot, lumpy skin, pneumonia, and tick borne diseases. The livestock ownership in the district is skewed, ranging from 0-300 cattle per household. There is abundant grazing in the district. Goat ownership ranges from 0-400 per household. Only 25-30% of households owns cattle while >65% own goats. Donkeys are mainly used for draught power.

EMERGENCY FOOD AID

Within the district, no food aid has been distributed. NGOs working in the district include WVI, ORAP, and Freedom from Hunger Campaign, CADEC and Hlekweni. These organisations are doing their normal developmental activities with little emergency food aid being distributed.

HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY

Grain production in this district is not sufficient to meet household requirements. This situation is reported to occur in all years since the farmers do not use manure or fertilisers in their cropping programmes despite the fact that in some areas sandy soils predominate. Despite the fact that this area is regarded as a livestock production area, there are very few farmers who own cattle. The distribution of cattle ownership is skewed with few people owing cattle and the majority without. This results in many households being unable to raise money for food through livestock sales.

The coping mechanisms of households include; (a) Remittances from off farm income such as that of husbands (70%) working in Botswana, South Africa or Zimbabwe. Within this district, 70% of the households are headed by women. However, decision making by these heads of households on planting and disposal of livestock is made late as there is need to consult husbands.

81 (b) Mopani worms (amacimbi) – this natural resource provides income for families as they can harvest 1-6 bags ($900-$5400) per season. However, the yield of amacimbi this year has been reduced by 50% since the second crop of amacimbi in April was not obtained as eggs of the worms were washed away by the incessant rains caused by Cyclone Eline.

(c) Grass cutting – the harvest of thatch grass in LSFCA and along roads provides income to farmers as they sale the grass to locals and some is exported to Botswana.

(d) Hiring out Labour: Another source of income is the hiring out of labour to other farmers and the ARDA Inggwizii Estate.

Inspite the drop in crop and amacimbi harvest the household food security has not been seriously threatened, as most of the coping mechanisms have not been affected.

Early Warning There was no early warning in the district.

Recommendations From the assessment the recommendation is that (i) Emphasis should be in livestock production (ii) Establishment and rehabilitation of small irrigation schemes (iii) There is need to increase the availability of maize grain in the district as evidenced by the willingness of farmers to buy maize meal at Z$227/20kg. (iv) There is need to introduce food for work programme for farmers who do not have off farm income and livestock. (v) Increase the production of small grains and the use dehullers to increase consumption. (vi) There is an immediate need to supply livestock vaccines in the area in order to reduce livestock deaths.

Forestry and Natural Resources

There is very little threat in the district since very little reconstruction is occurring in the area. There was wide spreadsheet of erosion in the district with silt deposition in some rivers

7.6 BEITBRIDGE DISTRICT

Agro-ecological zone: 4

General Information The district has a total of 18 wards out of which 12 are communal area wards. The cyclone affected most districts of the province with Beitbridge and Bulilimamangwe districts being most affected. The C.A’s affected are as shown in table below.

82 Communal areas affected C.A’s visited Maramani Chipise Dite Mutetengwe Masera Masera Chipise Dite Mutetengwe River Ranch Resettlement

The total population affected in the CA’s with 44 489 people out of a population of 95628. Among these 11018 are children of under five years. The affected households were grouped into two categories pertaining to shelter were not all the affected people require food aid. The table below shows the wards and categories of people affected in the district. A total of nine people died due to drowning. The most affected wards were 2,5, 6, and 12. Table 7.6.1: Summary of Affected People in Beitbridge Ward Total Total affected % Affected Total Under Five Population Years Affected 1 6170 2675 43.4 530 2 8755 6371 72.8 976 3 7596 3161 41.6 496 4 6700 2170 32.4 398 5 15616 11602 74.3 2130 6 11229 7326 65.2 1407 7 3771 965 25.6 239 8 3550 2757 77.7 2631 9 5349 1025 19.2 210 10 9487 1372 14.5 271 11 7835 2046 26.1 378 12 9570 5939 62.1 1352 Total 95628 47409 49.6 11018

Crop Production

The crops in the most affected wards were either flooded, washed away or water logged due to incessant rains. The flooding and wash away mainly occurred due to the bursting of banks of Limpopo, Umzingwane and their tributaries. This resulted in crop rotting and germination it the fields. Chikwalakwala irrigation scheme and some of the dry land crop was submerged in a three metre high flood for three days. The early planted crop was most affected by water logging and wash aways.

Due to the persistent rains, there was poor pollination in the sorghum crop resulting in poor grain formation. The combined effects of flooding, water logging, wash aways and poor pollination resulted in a 50-100% reduction in grain yields in the districts’ worst affected areas. Crops planted in water warp or low lying areas were completely washed away and no harvests are expected. However, crops planted on high plains better than most year and expected yields are:

83 Sorghum 4-10bags/ha Millet 4 bags/ha Maize 5 bags/ha

For the affected areas, the district has not carried out an assessment on the total hectarage affected. However from our field assessment the following hectarage was affected:

Area Hectarage/percentage Crops

Chikwalakwala >200ha maize, sorghum Mutetengwe 25% maize, sorghum

Irrigation

The following irrigation schemes were affected by the cyclone: Jalukanga, River Ranch, Biti, Chikwalakwala. Jalukanga and Biti schemes are still been carried out. At Chikwalakwala about +- 227m of canal washed away, two boreholes collapsed, 12 ha of crops was destroyed either through flooding or wash away, while some canal embarkments were washed away. The sections damaged can be rehabilitated with cropping programme commencing in May. River Ranch irrigation scheme was affected by the bursting of Umzingwane river resulting in the pump house being buried in deposited sand while the inlet pipe and delivery lines being washed or damaged. There is need to relocate and establish a new pump site and relining part of the main line.

Livestock Production

Livestock production is the main agriculture activity. The total numbers of livestock, which died due to the cyclone, are shown in table below. The majority of cattle, which died, were either cows or calves trying to cross flooded rivers while chickens and goats were drowned or died of pneumonia. Thirty percent of farmers in the district own cattle. On average each farmer has 10 goats. Table 7.6.2: Summary of Livestock Affected in Beitbridge District Ward Cattle Goats Donkeys Chickens Sheep 1 21 273 7 24 9 2 26 1057 16 173 38 3 299 34 63 4 39 7 6 5 44 1406 43 1663 6 64 557 41 7200 15 7 4 149 10 7 8 12 237 2 169 17 9 16 435 6 46 35 10 2 118 23 11 222 12 33 535 43 951 21 Total 222 5327 165 10299 205

84 Emergency Food Aid

The emergency food aid has been mainly been provided by the NGO’s shown in table below *3. However, food distribution has been concentrated on Beitbridge East and Central while very little has been distributed in Beitbridge West partly due to fuel shortage. The ration being provided include: 10kg maize meal, 750ml oil, 1 bar soap, 250g salt, 250g karpenta fish, 250g beans and 1kg sugar (for porridge) per individual. Some NGOs are giving 15kg maize meal / person/month.

Table 7.6.3: Summary of NGO priority List in accordance with wards WARD FOOD SHORT LONG TERM BLANKETS CLOTHES MEDICINES REHABILITATION TERM SHELTER OF INSTITUTIONS SHELTER AND SANITATION PRIORITIES 2,3,4. 1 EFZ/CC ______LDS EFZ CASE BY CASE/ EFZ LDS AS PER NEED 2 EFZ/CC LDS CC EFZ CASE BY CASE/ EFZ CC AS PER NEED 3 WV/EFZ LDS LDS EFZ CASE BY CASE/ EFZ LDS AS PER NEED 4 CC CC CC CC CASE BY CASE/ (M.O.H) CC/WV AS PER NEED 5 WV LDS LDS WV CASE BY CASE/ (M.O.H) LDS/WV AS PER NEED 6 CC CC CC CC CASE BY CASE/ (M.O.H) CC/WV AS PER NEED 7 WV ______WV EFZ CASE BY CASE/ WV WV AS PER NEED 8 WV ORAP ORAP EFZ CASE BY CASE/ ORAP ORAP/WV AS PER NEED 9 WV ______WV ______CASE BY CASE/ ORAP WV AS PER NEED 10 WV ORAP ORAP ______CASE BY CASE/ ORAP WV/ORAP AS PER NEED 11 WV LDS LDS ______CASE BY ORAP WV/LDS CASE/AS PER NEED 12 WV/CC WV WV ______CASE BY WV WV/ORAP CASE/AS PER NEED

WV = WORLD VISION CC = CHRISTIAN CARE LDS= LUTHERAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES EFZ= EVANGELICAL FELLOWSHIP OF ZIMBABWE

Household food security

In some of the flooded areas the normal food available in the area such as pumpkins, cucumbers groundnuts, roundnuts, pumpkin leaves, green maize and watermelons are not available this year. Therefore food security is under threat in these areas. In the district crop production is important to people who do not own cattle as cattle ownership is only 30%. This results in the former families depending on crops for their food security. Among the coping mechanisms within the area;

85 (i) families have one meal a day at 1500hrs – however this has not started happening (ii) buying of grain from traders at $120/20l (iii) selling of livestock to C.S.C and commercial farmers. However, the prices of livestock have gone down e.g. $12000 to $4000 for a 3year old steer, $700 to $400 for goats. The decline in livestock prices is due to CSC no longer buying while commercial farmers are not participating due to land invasions. (iv) Remittances from relatives working in South Africa assists in raising funds for food purchase. (v) Hiring out of labour to other farmers in CA’s or large scale farming area. (vi) Amacimbi or mopane worms collected from the bush provide a source of income.

The threats to food security for the district include: (1) Loss of watermelons due to flooding, wash aways has resulted in the loss of income of up to $18 000 per household. (2) The decline in prices of livestock has reduced the income used for purchase of food. (3) The increase in the prices of maize from $80 - $100 up to $120 / bucket and unavailability of maize grain on the market has affected food security of the people. (4) The flooding of the Limpopo River has resulted in people who illegally cross to South Africa being unable to do so this year. This has resulted in a reduction in off-farm income. (5) Available income is to be used for purchase of food and reconstruction of homes.

Early Warning

The district did distribute pamphlets in Venda and Shangani in informing people on the cyclone. However, some people did not take the warnings seriously.

Natural Resources

Along the river banks there were a lot of trees uprooted. Erosion was mainly concentrated along riverbanks, and waterways resulting in silting of some rivers. The available grazing has good cover and bulk for livestock. With some homesteads destroyed by cyclone Eline, there will be reconstruction, which will result in tree cutting resulting in natural resource degradation.

Recommendations

1. There is need to immediately provide construction material to avoid deforestation. In addition there is need to strengthen the local initiative by Holiday Inn (140houses) and Lutheran Development Services (560 homes 560 toilets) in providing construction material in form of cement, demt bricks and timber in order to release resources to buy food. 2. Increase construction of small earth dams and nutrition gardens. 3. Heifer restocking programme needs to be strengthened to increase livestock availability in the district. Organic actions assisting include WVI and AFC, ZFU

86 4. There is need to provide smallstock (goats and sheep) within the district. 5. Food for work should be introduced 6. Provision of seed packs to assist farmers in the next season. 7. Rehabilitation of irrigation schemes should be carried out immediately in order for farmers to grow crops that will improve household food security.

87