The Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, encompassing 16 countries including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, and South Africa, faced a severe food crisis in early 2025, often referred to as the "2025 famine." This crisis stemmed from the devastating El Niño-induced drought during the 2023/2024 growing season, which led to widespread crop failures, livestock losses, and soaring food prices.
By January 2025, over 26 million people across the region were at risk of acute hunger, with countries like Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe declaring national disasters. The World Food Programme (WFP) estimated that 7.2 million people required immediate assistance, as staple maize production plummeted, exacerbating malnutrition and stunting rates which were already affecting 20-40% of populations in several of the member states.
Causes were multifaceted: climate shocks from El Niño, which ended in mid-2024, combined with economic pressures like inflation and global food price volatility. In Zimbabwe, food inflation exceeded 350% in prior years, making healthy diets unaffordable for over 60% of rural households. Similar patterns emerged in Mozambique and Malawi, where floods and droughts compounded import dependencies. The crisis peaked during the 2024/2025 lean season (October 2024 to March 2025), with crisis conditions prevalent in drought-hit areas, though full famine was finally averted through humanitarian interventions.
As of August 2025, the acute phase of the famine appears to have ended, thanks to a robust 2025 harvest. Favourable weather, influenced by a shift to La Niña conditions, boosted crop yields significantly. South Africa's maize harvest for the 2024/2025 season rose by nearly 20%, lowering regional prices and improving access. In Zimbabwe, overall food production surged 290% compared to 2024, delaying the next lean season and enhancing household stocks. The AGRA Food Security Monitor for July 2025 noted a recovery from 2024's drought, with main season harvests concluding in June, marking improved availability.
However, the end of the immediate famine does not mean full resolution. Chronic food insecurity persists, with over 300 million undernourished in Africa as per the 2025 State of Food Security report, and with the SADC region considerably lagging global progress. Vulnerabilities like gender gaps, child stunting, and climate risks remain, with over 20% of Africans unable to afford healthy diets. Responses include WFP's €3 million EU-funded preparedness initiatives and SADC's Agrifood Alliance, and focused on more drought resilient agriculture and the implementation of right-to-food legislation.
In conclusion, while the 2025 famine's acute grip has loosened post-harvest, more long-term strategies are essential to prevent recurrence amid ongoing climate change. SADC's goal of halving regional poverty by 2025 through inclusive growth remains challenging but possibly achievable beyond this date with sustained and well-directed investment.