The Sunday News
Sunday News Reporters
Harare-based, Masvingo-born clergyman, Prophet Onward Gibson has set up an assistance fund to the tune of $700 000 meant to assist vulnerable people during the Covid-19 induced lockdown.
The funding was used to purchase food hampers, which have been distributed countrywide with people from Harare and Masvingo having already received donations, while Bulawayo is expected to be the next port of call.
The influential motivational speaker and founder of New Creation Embassy Church through his Onward Gibson Foundation has also been donating money through EcoCash, where beneficiaries have been receiving between $200 and $300.
The man of God-cum-author, made headlines earlier this year after he launched his first book titled Too Late To Fail in five states in USA.
The book sold well over 800 copies in one month in United States. The book was launched in Pensacola Florida, Atlanta, New Orleans, Salt Lake Utah and Washington DC.
In Zimbabwe it was launched in November in his hometown of Masvingo and the book is available on Amazon. Prophet O, as he is warmly referred to, said he was inspired to start up the initiative considering the high unemployment rate in the country.
“Many people are not employed in the country and even those that have jobs, their wages cannot match the price hikes that are going on everyday. A majority relied on hand to mouth and since the start of the lockdown a number of people are not able to get an income,” said Prophet O.
He said he believed clergymen have a role to give tangible solutions to communities.
“To me giving is an expression of the love of God, love is expressed through giving and when God blesses you, you should be able to bless somebody else. Our priority is to feed the hungry and many a time we look at orphans, widows and people with impairments. But the lockdown has affected almost everyone and we want to get to a point where we feed everyone,” he said.
Each beneficiary received food hampers that include 20kgs of mealie-meal, 2 litres cooking oil, 2kg sugar, 2kg rice, 2kg flour, kapenta, 1kg salt, 1kg chunks, half-bar soap, sanitary wear and beans.
He said it was important to adhere to health measures put in place by the Government to curb the coronavirus pandemic.
