Entumbane residents benefit from donation drive

Entumbane residents in Bulawayo received food donations on Saturday, with community leaders urging unity and responsibility amid growing urban food insecurity.

The drive, held at Entumbane Hall, was organised in partnership with Novile Mining by Mr Vncil and Sehlule Mahlangu.

The pair contributed 175 bags each of mealie meal, flour, rice, macaroni, bars of soap, jam and cooking oil.

Prince Dube, the Member of Parliament for Entumbane/Njube, praised the gesture, saying it demonstrated the importance of solidarity.

“There is power in unity. There is success when we work together, even at community level. When the councillor and MP join hands and when people who grew up in a community return to give back, it is commendable and God will bless them,” he said.

“Our elderly should not suffer or die of hunger. They built Bulawayo for us, they built Zimbabwe for us. Now it is our responsibility to take care of them.”

The donation comes as urban food insecurity continues to rise. A Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC) report published in February 2024 found that 1.75 million people living in towns and cities could face shortages, with 35% of urban households classed as food insecure.

In Bulawayo, the study assessed suburbs including Entumbane, Njube, Mpopoma, Pumula, Magwegwe and Nkulumane.

Reflecting on the suburb’s turbulent past, donor Sehlule Mahlangu said Entumbane had endured hardship since independence.

“We grew up here in Entumbane in 1981, when life was very difficult. From 1980 to 1981, there was a lot of bloodshed and from my research more than 400 people from Entumbane died,” he said.

“Back then, living in Entumbane was called living in the battle of Bulawayo. This is why it is our responsibility to make Entumbane grow. If Entumbane grows, other areas will grow too.”

Mr Vncil added that the contribution was modest but necessary.
“What we are giving right now may be small, but I hope it helps the residents,” he said.

The donation was warmly received by the community, many of whom continue to struggle with economic challenges.

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