Jacob Mudenda wants Zimbabweans to eat more porridge and less sadza as fears of a severe drought grow. The Speaker of Parliament believes families can make their maize meal last longer by changing how they cook and eat. He also wants MPs to warn people about wasting food before grain supplies come under more strain.
His advice came at a budget meeting in Bulawayo, where he drew on memories of the 1957 drought. Back then, Mudenda was a young child, but he recalls families cutting their meals from three a day to just two. Porridge became a common choice as households tried to save what little grain they had.
And the idea is quite simple. Mudenda argues that porridge uses less mealie-meal than a pot of sadza or isitshwala. He wants families to make that switch where they can and stop throwing out cooked food. Even small changes, in his view, could help stretch what people have.
But his warning went beyond what people put on their plates. Mudenda said state funds alone may not be enough to keep hunger at bay if the rains fail. He fears some families could face grave food shortages unless communities take steps to save grain.
The weather outlook is adding to those concerns. A possible Super El Niño has raised fears of extreme heat and poor rainfall, both of which could harm crop yields. Much of rural Zimbabwe relies on rain to grow food, leaving many families at risk when dry spells hit.
There's also the recent drought to think about. El Niño hit farms across southern Africa in 2023 and 2024, causing major crop losses. That experience has left fresh concerns about how well food stocks, farm aid, and relief plans can cope with another bad growing season.
For the 2027 budget, Mudenda wants more funds set aside to help people at risk of hunger. He also wants support to reach those who need it most, rather than leave families with no aid when food gets scarce.
His message to lawmakers was to teach people how to save food in their local areas. That means urging households to waste less, use grain with care, and plan meals around what they have. The call for porridge is part of that wider push to help families cope if Zimbabwe faces another drought.
His advice came at a budget meeting in Bulawayo, where he drew on memories of the 1957 drought. Back then, Mudenda was a young child, but he recalls families cutting their meals from three a day to just two. Porridge became a common choice as households tried to save what little grain they had.
And the idea is quite simple. Mudenda argues that porridge uses less mealie-meal than a pot of sadza or isitshwala. He wants families to make that switch where they can and stop throwing out cooked food. Even small changes, in his view, could help stretch what people have.
But his warning went beyond what people put on their plates. Mudenda said state funds alone may not be enough to keep hunger at bay if the rains fail. He fears some families could face grave food shortages unless communities take steps to save grain.
The weather outlook is adding to those concerns. A possible Super El Niño has raised fears of extreme heat and poor rainfall, both of which could harm crop yields. Much of rural Zimbabwe relies on rain to grow food, leaving many families at risk when dry spells hit.
There's also the recent drought to think about. El Niño hit farms across southern Africa in 2023 and 2024, causing major crop losses. That experience has left fresh concerns about how well food stocks, farm aid, and relief plans can cope with another bad growing season.
For the 2027 budget, Mudenda wants more funds set aside to help people at risk of hunger. He also wants support to reach those who need it most, rather than leave families with no aid when food gets scarce.
His message to lawmakers was to teach people how to save food in their local areas. That means urging households to waste less, use grain with care, and plan meals around what they have. The call for porridge is part of that wider push to help families cope if Zimbabwe faces another drought.
