The Minister of Labour and Social Services, Hon. Paurina Mpariwa is in Masvingo province on a drought assessment programme.

Hon. Mpariwa who is the MDC’s Secretary for Labour and Social Services said the programme started on February 19 and ends on February 23, 2012.  Hon. Mpariwa will tour potential communal irrigation schemes in Chivi, Gutu, Zaka and Chiredzi.

“The programme is meant to assess the drought situation as well as tour potential communal irrigation schemes. There is need to visit children’s homes and old people’s homes in order to assess their living conditions with a view to put up measures to avert hunger at the respective places. In addition, the minister will assess the welfare of prisoners in Masvingo,” said Hon. Mpariwa.

She noted that Masvingo province had recorded the highest projection of food insecure population for the peak period between January to March 2012 with 215 965 people.

This was because of a higher population combined with the prevalence of high food insecurity.

As a result, Hon. Mpariwa came to the province because it is regarded as one of the most vulnerable provinces in the country. “We came here because this province is considered to be one of the critical zones in terms of drought and we are here to assess the situation and come up with mitigation efforts to avert the looming crisis,” said Hon. Mpariwa.

Meanwhile, at the Mutare Magistrate Court in Manicaland, former Makoni Central district MDC chairperson, Teddy Chipere’s case was remanded to 22 March 2012. He is facing false charges of undermining Robert Mugabe.

In the same province, Second Maxwell, the MDC Youth Assembly Information and Publicity Secretary for Ward 31 in Mutare North who was in custody since 8 February for allegedly undermining Mugabe, was today remanded out of custody to 24 April 2012 on a US$50 bail when he appeared before a Mutare magistrate.

Blessing Nyamaropa of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights represented him.
 
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