A group of Zimbabwean women based in Zimbabwe, South Africa and the United Kingdom, have donated food hampers to 50 underprivileged families in Esiphezini area.
The women who met through social media platform, Facebook, under the name, Over 40 and confident Southern Africa/ Zimbabwean Women group, targeted mostly the elderly in ward 2, Esiphezini under Chief Sigola, who are feeling the effects of COVID-19.
In an interview with CITE, one of the group`s representatives Minella Mono said they are targeting peri-urban areas which are often forgotten during crisis times.
“Our motto is bringing back ubuntu ngothonda hence we realised that since the coming of this pandemic there are a lot of things happening and needed. We noticed that when people are donating they are donating to hospitals and often underprivileged communities outside bigger cities, are left out,” said Mono.
“We came together as women from Zimbabwe, South Africa, United Kingdom and America and raised about US$760 and ZWL$1900 to buy mealie meal, cooking oil, sugar, chunks, sugar beans, tea leaves, flour, sunlight liquid and other commodities to help especially old people in the area.”
Mono said they have also donated through the Ezra Sibanda and Friends initiative to Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital.
Meanwhile, Ward 2 Councillor, Shumirai Nkiwane expressed her gratitude for the donations.
“We are grateful for the donations; this is not the first time they are helping us even last month they gave people in the area mealie meal. They have come back again with food hampers to assist our community and even catered for the old people in the area,” said Cllr Nkiwane.
“Most of the time as people from rural areas we survive by selling different items but due to the lockdown travel restrictions, most people can no longer do that.”
