/ 10 January 2003

China donates 4 500 tons of maize to Zimbabwe

China has donated 4 500 tons of maize to famine-hit Zimbabwe, the state-controlled Herald newspaper reported on Friday.

The donation of the southern African country’s staple food, which was handed over on Thursday, comes at a time the country face a shortfall of well over 300 000 tons of maize between now and March, when the next harvest is due.

Around eight-million out of Zimbabwe’s 11,6-million people are threatened with famine.

It is the hardest-hit out of six southern African countries affected by food shortages caused by drought and unsound government policies. – Sapa-AFP