Emergency food helps families survive drought

A few random bean and corn plants had managed to poke their pale green heads out of the parched fields that surrounded the Tshalibe-Dube household in Zimbabwe last November. They produced nothing except proof of drought’s power to wither life.

“We didn’t get anything,” said Morlate Dube, referring to all the crops she should have harvested in 2024. “There was no rain.” 

The year-long drought not only affected farmers in Mapane Village in Gwanda District where Dube lives, it dried up crops across southern Africa. The previous year in Gwanda also was drier than usual, producing only a minimal harvest.

The wild food in Gwanda’s forests – fruit and edible mopane worms – that people count on for free sustenance stopped producing. Livestock died because there was nothing for them to graze, and water supplies were severely limited.

But Dube and her husband, Milton Tshalibe, have a family to support. They care for Tshalibe’s Uncle Norman, who has several disabilities, and two preschool age children, including a granddaughter and the child of another relative, who has migrated to look for work. 
 

In late November, Zimbabwe Brethren in Christ Compassionate and Development Services (BIC-CDS), a Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) partner, distributed a month’s supply of mealie-meal, beans and oil to 1,000 families. This was the first of three monthly distributions to especially vulnerable families in and around Gwanda District.

“If families do not receive food assistance, what will happen is obvious,” said the Rev. Dr. Mandlenkosi Moyo, administrative secretary for the Brethren in Christ Church in Zimbabwe. “Some, they can starve to death because of the prolonged drought spell.” 

The food was intended to nourish and sustain people while they wait for crops to grow from October through April – summertime in the southern hemisphere. So far, no rain had come to indicate that it was safe to plant. 

On the day of the first distribution, Dube walked to a local shop to collect her family’s supplies. Others brought carts pulled by donkeys whose hides barely covered their bones. 
 

In front of them lay 10 kg (110 lbs.) bags of mealie meal and 9 kg (20 lbs.) bags of dry beans awaited distribution. Each family also would get 3 liters of cooking oil. For the next month, families would have secure food.

The mood was jubilant, said Julia Weaver, a participant in MCC’s two-year Seed program for young adults, who was reporting on the distribution. 

“She (Dube) had a child strapped to her back and a smile ear to ear while she collected her family’s portion of food supplies,” Weaver said. “Her relief was palpable as we conversed about how she is going to make her family beans for the first time in months.”

To everyone’s surprise and delight, rain began to fall during the distribution. “We’re planting today!” Dube declared.

In Zimbabwe and Zambia, four MCC partners held distributions, including this one, for more than 3,500 families in 2024 and 2025. In Zambia, MCC also worked with the BIC Church. 

“For the past couple of years there’s been a decline in terms of production and farming yields due to climate change,” said Gugulethu Nyathi, a BIC-CDS project officer in Gwanda. 

As a result, she says, families have been forced to reduce the number of meals each day, to water down the mealie-meal and to enlist their children in earning money for food.

“The support provided by the local BIC church allows people to feed their families. Providing emergency food assistance also ensures that families are able to plant for the next season,” said Bruce Guenther, MCC disaster response director. “Poverty deepens when the only way families can eat is to sell off assets, such as land, animals or tools, in order to meet short-term needs.”  
 

MCC and the BIC Church share a commitment to serve all who are suffering, regardless of background or belief, said Vurayayi Pugeni, MCC area director for southern and central Africa and Nigeria. When the church’s insight into the needs and strengths of the people in the community is combined with MCC’s humanitarian expertise, the combined response can be swift and effective.

“BICC leaders and members consistently demonstrate a strong desire to extend love and care beyond the walls of the church, reflecting the Gospel’s call to love our neighbors in tangible ways,” Pugeni said.
 

Rain fell inconsistently throughout December and January, but it seemed to be enough for pumpkin and cow peas, a high protein source, to begin growing. More rain came in February – so much rain that some roads flooded, preventing vehicles from travel. But the once barren, brown fields around the Tshalibe household were brimming with life and the river had water they could use.

“Instead of dusty and barren surrounding, everything was a striking green,” said Weaver, who traveled to visit the Tshalibe-Dube family in February. “The first thing to notice before entering their home was the field of tall maize plants and bean sprouts shooting from the earth where dung beetles had been rolling before.”
 

Not only was the landscape different, but the people were too, she said, now that they were eating three meals a day. “Dube was happy to see us, and Uncle Norman, who had previously not been able to contribute to the interview, was clear enough in mind to tell us a bit about his family and life.” 

One child was in school and the younger one, who had been listless in November, was now playing peek-a-boo. She had more weight on her legs and her clothing fit better. 

“There is a big difference,” Dube said, “because we were in a difficult situation. We didn’t even know where to start. But ever since we received the food assistance, it’s now easier to think of other means of survival. Even our bodies are now slimmer. (Malnutrition can cause bloating.) Our skin is now back in good conditions.” 
 

Having food to rely on means they can use the money Tshalibe gets from piece jobs for other needs.

“We used to survive on piece jobs, so if you got maybe let’s say $5 or $2, we would use it all to buy food,” Dube said. “We couldn’t even buy other things like soap or shoes or anything at home but ever since you assisted us with food, we used that (piece-job) money to buy soap, shoes and even a dress. There was a huge difference, so we realized that this food has really helped us.”

After the last of the distributed food was consumed, the Tshalibe-Dube family were able to eat pumpkins and cowpeas they had planted. They harvested corn, sorghum and melons in May, but a two-week dry spell meant that the yield was poor and lasted only until June. They began to buy maize again. 

Brighton Nkokha, a local pastor who was at the first distribution, asked people in Canada and the U.S. to pray for adequate rain. Not only does food nourish the body, it reduces conflict in the home caused by hunger, he said.

“If the rains come by, we will work with our hands because God commanded us to work with our hands, and he blesses the work of our hands,” he said. “So we really need, we really need rain.” 

Interviews, photos and video were collected by Julia Abadia Weaver and Jamie Burke, participants in the Seed program in Zimbabwe.