Water For Justice

STARK REALITY OF HUNGER AND FAMINE

The ActionAid Lesotho revealed stark realities obtaining in the grassroots where a majority of people live with abject poverty. These conditions according to a study undertaken in the districts of Thaba-Tseka and Leribe indicate that they are being exacerbated by chronic illnesses leading to drop outs in schools.

The study also revealed that Basotho are not able to buy food, as they have no money due to unemployment and lack of economic opportunities for especially rural dwellers.

They are not able to produce enough food to feed themselves conditions that are further aggraded by climate change, livestock theft, none availability of farming inputs, in this way, people’s fundamental right to food is being violated.

This has replica implications such as disintegrated social systems, crime, prostitution, HIV and AIDS, orphans, every-man-for-himself syndrome, disillusionments and hatred.

Modalities that ActionAid feels have to be taken include the support of the right to food in that has to be incorporate into law.

There must also be expansion of the social protection for Basotho. Though government has taken strides to ensure the social protection of its citizens, through elderly pension, trh8is is not enough.

Government must also enhance the status and income of women who are on the receiving end of these cut-throat circumstances of abject poverty and disease.

There must also be allocation of adequate and appropriate resources for increased food production for local use.

National budget allocations must prioritise food as a main item that has to get al greater share of the budget.

ActionAid also promotes that agribusiness system must be regulated in order to protect small farmers against big companies.

As for the interfaces between education and hunger, the study revealed that there were decreasing academic performance due to less concentration

Visual symptoms of these in primary school are dirtiness and lack of basic school necessities. At least lunch is guaranteed in schools, what about breakfast and dinner?

Early marriages of girl children to secure dowry for the family. Increasing numbers of orphans in schools.

The cause and effect relations that exist between hunger and crime shows that 40% male inmates in the Thaba-Tseka correctional and rehabilitation centre have committed crimes influenced by hunger and poverty.