The current country’s economic system is suffocating. The continuous rise of prices of goods in 2008 forced the country’s currency to lose value hence forcing many industries to shut down and chasing away investors leading to a shortage of jobs in the country. However, on the other hand, most people in communal lands who depend on farming are facing a challenge due to climate change. The last few years, we experienced drought in the country which reduced the farmers’ harvest to a greater extent.
There are Non-Governmental Organisations like Plan, ORAP, and many more which intervene to help by providing food for the vulnerable. They mostly focus on providing help in rural areas. The social welfare and the N.G.Os have their own criteria of choosing who should benefit from them. According to their explanation, they help mostly the disabled, orphans, widows, old age and the vulnerable. I attended one of the meetings held in Tshino Primary School under the topic ”Who should benefit from N.G.Os and Social Welfare?” One of the parents raised a point and said, ”According to the current situation in the country, everyone who is vulnerable is in need for food. As young parents, we are facing a challenge because we are not chosen to benefit from these programmes because they say we are still young and energetic to search for jobs and provide for our families.” This raised a debate and raised a question that ”Where should Youth get the jobs?”
The youth mentioned that they are very disappointed because the very same food which the N.G.Os provide to some old age, is the same food which they hire them to work for. This means that some do not need that food because they have children in the diaspora who provide for them with food.
Therefore, they said that they think it is a good idea to include everyone to benefit from these food programmes since the current situation of the country is not good for everyone.
Story by Princess Ndlovu.