The World Food Programme (WFP) said that it will roll out a cash transfer programme for urban households to alleviate hunger.
According to WFP country director Eddie Rowe, a pilot programme will be launched in Epworth where 20 000 people are targeted. Said Rowe:
We will be doing the cash transfer program for the urban poor. Currently, we are carrying a pilot programme in Epworth for 20 000 people where each beneficiary is getting
US$13US $9. We plan to reach 200 000 residents in eight urban areas by January next year.
Rowe said that the cash transfer programme was affected by the government of Zimbabwe’s decision to ban the use of foreign currency in domestic transactions.
He explained that the WFP will, therefore, give foodstuffs instead of cash since giving the beneficiaries cash will not guarantee them the same amount of goods they would get if given foodstuffs.