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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]

MATABELELAND South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu, has handed over a consignment of mealie-meal donated to vulnerable households from Sibona Village in Gwanda.

The donation was sourced from Tzu Chi Foundation Zimbabwe, which availed 500x10kg bags of mealie-meal to the community through Dr Ndlovu’s facilitation.

Handing over the donation at Sibona Secondary School recently, Minister Ndlovu said the intervention was part of efforts to ease the burden on the needy through private-public- partnerships.
She said the mealie-meal will assist the community, which was still grappling with the effects of last year’s El Nino-induced drought.

“There are challenges being faced by this community such as food challenges and the rehabilitation of Sibona Secondary School, a project that he is already working on,” said Dr Ndlovu.

“I then engaged Tzu Chi Zimbabwe Foundation, which has been offering humanitarian support in the country for many years and they have provided mealie-meal to your community.

“This intervention comes at a crucial time when people are still grappling with the effects of climate change.”
Minister Ndlovu extended her gratitude to the foundation, for the timeous response to the needs of the community. She also urged the organisation to roll out skills training programmes to empower communities.

She said more partners will be engaged to bring the much-needed development in communities. Dr Ndlovu said the Second Republic, under the leadership of President Mnangagwa should be commended for creating an enabling environment for development partners to play an active role in developing communities.

She urged leaders within communities to identify development gaps in their communities so that strategies can be put in place to address them.

Tzu Chi Foundation (Zimbabwe) director, Mr Chin Chai Chu, said as an organisation they remain committed to supporting the country’s development agenda.

“We have been offering humanitarian aid across the country and we will continue on this path.
“We have come here to Gwanda District to donate mealie-meal following a request from the Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu,” he said.

“We plan to roll out more intervention programmes in Matabeleland Region as we wish to extend our reach as much as possible. We thank Government for supporting our programmes and working closely with us. We also thank Dr Ndlovu for allowing us to work in her province,” he said.

Gwanda North Zanu-PF shadow MP, Cde Lungisani Ncube, commended the support rendered and hope that more development will be rolled out in line with President Mnangagwa’s philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind.
Wabayi Village head, Mr Obert Maphosa, said the mealie-meal will help alleviate food shortages.

“A lot of people are in need and any form of assistance will go a long way. We appreciate this mealie-meal that has been given to us today. We would like to thank our leaders, Dr Ndlovu and Cde Lungisani Ncube for prioritising our needs and listening to our plight.

“We also thank the development partner for giving us mealie-meal, may they continue with more interventions,” he said. —@DubeMatutu