07 April 2020,
To: All the Governments in the 12 countries where PELUM Association is Operating (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Eswatini, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, South Africa, Botswana and Malawi)
All the Development Partners supporting development in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region
All multi-disciplinary Agencies (Private, Public, Scientific, Academic, Research responding to the CORONA VIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) PANDEMIC
All the Members of PELUM Association in Eastern and Southern Africa Region
Dear all,
RE: PELUM ASSOCIATION MESSAGE OF SUPPORT AS WE ALL WORK TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES POSED BY THE CORONA VIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) PANDEMIC
As PELUM Association, we recognize the gravity of the COVID 19 global pandemic which has claimed tens of thousands of lives across the globe. We also recognize that human beings are part of the Earth Community and therefore connected to all forms of life on planet Earth.
We, the PELUM Association family take the responsibility to coordinate, share lessons, network and deepen the learning around COVID-19 in Eastern and Southern Africa, targeting directly our constituency comprising of 280 civil society organizations working with over 12 Milion smallholder farmers and pastoralist to feed the region by producing food using agro-ecological farming systems that are in harmony with nature.
PELUM Association is cognizant of the fact that the bulk of food consumed by both urban and rural dwellers is produced by these smallholder farmers. Most of this food is sold by women at farmers’ markets. PELUM Association work since 1995 has informed us that farmers’ markets are key sources of livelihoods among smallholder farmers and pastoralist, that the bulk of people living in rural and urban areas buy their food directly from farmers, pastoralist or vendors who source food from rural farmers. We therefore recognize farming and the selling of farm produce by farmers as one of the essential services.
We, the PELUM Association family therefore stand in solidarity with smallholder farmers and pastoralist in the continent and in the world in general particular those whose lives and livelihoods are being affected by the lockdown in many countries due the rapidly spreading Corona Virus. We call for the Government of the world to put in place legal measures that protect small holder farmers and pastoralist rather than criminalize them as they participate in the noble tasks of feeding their families and the populations during the COVID-19 crisis. We also call upon our governments and all stakeholders to stand strong and united as we all work together to restore hope to all people and be ready to stand with small holder farmers and pastoralist as we have done in the past also as we undertake to re-build their livelihoods which are being shattered by the COVID-19.
PELUM Association sincerely look forward to working closely with all the governments and multi-stake holders in the region and beyond as we join forces and efforts to respond to this global pandemic.
Yours sincerely,
PELUM Association
Anne Nashipae,
Acting Chairperson
PELUM Regional Board
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