Impact of the Ukraine crisis in Zimbabwe

Editorial

Since the start of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, its effects have been felt around the world, including in Zimbabwe, where the impact has been in price spikes, chain disruptions, and general deterioration in macroeconomics and living conditions, especially for vulnerable and marginalised people.

The Ukraine crisis comes at a time when Zimbabwe is struggling to recover from the cumulative effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and amid a decline in agricultural maize production from year 2021/22.

This threatens development achievements and hinders progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In recent reports, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have noted that, conflict has had a direct impact on rising food prices and fuel as well as trade disruptions, leading to fiscal tightening and increasing inequality and governance challenges.

The WFP also noted that uncertainty and the closure of the Black Sea Grains Initiative affected world wheat prices, which in turn could affect the future prices of other grains. With support from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), WFP, IOM and FAO are jointly reviewing and monitoring the impact of the Ukraine-Russia conflict on food price increases, food security, access to basic needs and agricultural inputs, and migration patterns in Zimbabwe.

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