Elsewhere in southern Africa, the report says Zimbabwe's overall food supply position is expected to remain satisfactory following a good 2000 maize harvest. However, continuous devaluation of the national currency, fuel and power shortages, high inflation and increasing unemployment are undermining access to food of large numbers of urban population. Sharp increases in the prices of basic foods in the past month, including bread, maize meal, sugar and cooking oil, particularly in Harare, have been reported. Despite the severe floods in southern and central areas of Mozambique, FAO reports that a good 2000 cereal crop, mainly maize, was obtained. As a result, the food supply situation remains satisfactory.
Prices remain stable and are below their level of a year earlier.
In provinces affected by the floods, the food supply situation improved with a good harvest of the secondary season crop, the rehabilitation of roads, and food aid distributions. However, an estimated 172,000 food insecure people, including those most affected by the flood damage, would require food aid until the next harvest. In South Africa, the report says heavy rains in late November in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province resulted in floods and the displacement of thousands of people. The flooding disrupted agricultural activities. However, according to the report, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory reflecting the 2000 bumper maize crop.