The Sunday News
Sunday News Reporters
THE Government will continue to work with the church and other stakeholders in a bid to reach the poor and vulnerable whose plight has been compounded by Covid-19, an official has said.
Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Richard Moyo said this during a donation of mealie-meal to villagers by Madzibaba Emmanuel Mutumwa of the Johanne Masowe weChishanu sect at Redbank, Umguza District yesterday.
Rice from President Emmerson Mnangagwa was also distributed to the same community. In his remarks, Cde Moyo said the Government was aware of the need to feed people, hence President Mnangagwa’s call for willing partners to join the Government in its effort to eradicate hunger.
“People of Umguza do not like handouts. They are people who usually feed themselves but this year things are hard because we had no rains. This is why we are here today. I’m here because the President asked for help from anyone who can provide during this tough time. Church leaders, business people and society leaders need to come together and help in any way that they can. This is why we are here today with Madzibaba Emmanuel who is a church leader,” he said.
Minister Moyo thanked Madzibaba Mutumwa for his donation while acknowledging that more needed to be done.
Cde Moyo also cautioned people who were hiding those that had escaped quarantine after skipping the border from neighbouring countries and warned they would also be placed under mandatory quarantine for three weeks.
Madzibaba Mutumwa pledged to help more communities in rural areas, as he said this was fulfillment of the founding father of the church’s vision.
Meanwhile, the National Aids Council Midlands Province has donated a consignment of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worth $ 1 million to Midlands medical frontline workers as it complements Government efforts in fighting Covid-19. NAC donated 100 Tyvek disposable suits, 165 laboratory coats, 8 500 surgical masks, 10 000 reusable cloth masks, N95 respirators and 4482 rolls of toilet paper. The donation was handed over by NAC provincial manager, Mr Mambewu Shumba to the Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs, Senator Larry Mavima on Friday. A miner, Mr Marufu Sithole through his mining concern Chimona Mining Company also donated to the visually impaired people in Gweru who have been hard hit by the Covid-19 induced lockdown.
