Reuters reports that Zimbabwe, once known as the breadbasket of Africa, is struggling to feed itself people since the seizure of thousands of white-owned farms under late President Robert Mugabe.
Price rises also indicate how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as United Nations agencies will worsen food crisis across Zimbabwe and the continent.
One employee revealed that there is a shortage of baking fat in the country. The oil most of it is being made locally but it has also risen due to the Ukraine war and also the fuel cost going up.
The Ukraine conflict has disrupted shipping in the Black Sea – throttling exports from Russia and Ukraine to markets including in Africa.
Nearly half of the continent’s countries rely on Russia and Ukraine for wheat imports says Abebe Haile-Gabriel, assistant director-general at the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization.
Fuel prices are rising and the currency rapidly devaluing. Annual inflation jumped to 96% in April, up from 61% in January.
According to government statistics about half of Zimbabwe’s 15 million people survive on less than $1.90 per day.
