Drought is devastating southern Africa’s crops: why it’s happening and what can be learned

Farmer Takesure Chimbu walks on the bed of the Kapotesa dam in Mudzi, Zimbabwe, dried out by drought. Jekesai Njikizana/AFP

Southern Africa’s worst drought in years has destroyed crops of the staple food, maize, across the region. Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia have all been affected by the drought. Crop failures in South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe – the largest maize producers in southern Africa – have destabilised food security in the whole region.

The situation is escalating: the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has now announced that 68 million people need urgent food aid.