Tearfund partners with churches and Christian agencies in Zimbabwe, working through a strong network of volunteers that are in close contact with communities. This enables food aid to get to families and individuals who desperately need help, often in remote areas, regardless of political, tribal or religious affiliations.
Margaret, 74, lives in a sun-parched rural district about 70km south of Bulawayo. The riverbeds are completely dry after the rains failed last year. She cares for four grandchildren, orphaned when her two sons died from Aids related illnesses. The grandchildren's mothers fled to South Africa in their desperation. Some four million Zimbabweans have left the country, the vast majority crossing the Limpopo River in a steady yet precarious exodus to South Africa.
Margaret says that her husband raises a little money from fixing pots and utensils only to find nothing to buy in the store 5kms away. "I feel quite angry. I don't have any soap to wash the children before school and we don't even have any food. We have been surviving on melons for two months, we have nothing else."
One of her children, Thandolwenkosi, 6, is sick showing signs of chronic malnutrition.
"She was supposed to go to school today but she is too hungry to go," Margaret explains. "I feel that death is looming for us if we don't get food."
The economic crisis situation in Zimbabwe is affecting everyone with extreme inflation now reported at over 7000% and unemployment exceeding 80%. Basic services such as public transport, medical care and education have become unaffordable.
Lines of vehicles wait for days, in queues a mile long, for fuel tankers to cross the border from Botswana. What remains of Zimbabwe's civil infrastructure has suffered systematic neglect over the last three years.
"The churches that we work with remain an apolitical voice in civil society standing against the injustice," adds Grant. "We support them, committed to fighting the poverty that is no longer affecting only the poorest in society. Zimbabwe doesn't have to be like this."
Tearfund is appealing to the British public and churches to support relief work that must be increased to avoid an intensifying food and water crisis that will put lives at risk.
