Villagers in Silobela, Midlands Province are now feeding on wild roots as they have run out of food supplies and donations have dried up.
Some of the villagers have reportedly resorted to gold panning along the Gweru River to make ends meet.
This was revealed by the Zibagwe Rural District Council (ZRDC) councillor Willard Moyo. He said:
Villagers are digging the roots of a wild tree called Manyeya. They are digging the roots along Gweru River, it is the roots of that tree which they are cooking for food.
Villagers will be digging and cooking the roots after spending the whole day panning for gold in the river to no avail.
Most would spend a full week trying to make a single point (of gold) that costs US$2.
This comes after the department of social welfare has stopped food distribution saying that grain silos are empty.
Area MP Mthokhozisa Manoki Mpofu confirmed the grim situation in Silobela, saying it has been three months since the villagers received food handouts from the government.
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