Ndebele ‘King’, Bulelani Khumalo has been donating food hampers to Zimbabweans living in neighbouring South Africa in in an effort to cushion them against the effects of COVID-19 lockdown.
The donation follows the recent call for food assistance to Zimbabweans domiciled south of the Limpopo by the Zimbabwe Community in South Africa.
Director of the Mzilikazi Royal Kingdom, Prince Hlabezulu Khumalo, said King Bulelani has in the past week been able to give food parcels to more than 450 families in South Africa.
“ With the full understanding of the circumstances and the causative factors that have contributed to the dire situation that our people find themselves in, King Bulelani decided to take it on himself to stand up and mobilise businesses and individuals to give humanitarian assistance to families that have been gravely impacted by COVID-19,” said Prince Khumalo.
“There are many of our people who have lost their jobs and livelihoods especially women with children, the elderly and those living in abject poverty who for some reason or the other could not access government COVID-19 relief grants and food parcels.”
He said the King has been in the past weeks been able to give food parcels to families in Hillbrow, Berea, Yeoville, Cosmo City, Diepsloot, Olivenhoutbosch, Alexander and Thembisa townships.
Prince Khumalo said King Bulelani was committed to finding resources to assist the needy Zimbabweans at a time when the world is battling COVID-19.
“We continue to be flooded with requests for assistance and this has been humbling and overwhelming and the King has committed to find resources to continuously support the suffering families and individuals throughout the course of the pandemic and for so long as ordinary men and women, business and organisations continue to support our endeavours to make it possible to give this humanitarian assistance,” he said.
Prince Khumalo said they wish to soon extend their assistance to Zimbabweans back home and those residing in Botswana and other countries.
“We are indebted to those that have opened their hearts to assist and the King will continue to be the shining example of selfless traditional leadership that will put the needs of the citizens first,” he said.
Zimbabwe Community in South Africa spokesperson, Bongani Mkwananzi, expressed gratitude for the food aid.
“We are very grateful for the help the King has given to the people,” said Mkwananzi.
“His programme has been quite extensive. We understand he is extending it to people at home in Zimbabwe who are also very much affected. This is very commendable and we salute our traditional leadership for showing good leadership and concern for the people.”
