Zim Begins Deliveries of Donations to Malawi Victims of Cyclone Freddy
Hosia Mviringi
Zimbabwe has begun deliveries of much needed humanitarian relief donations of foodstuffs, medication, as well as human expertise and other supplies to victims of Cyclone Freddy in Malawi.
Yesterday, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps to Malawi, Dr. Nancy Saungweme received a delivery of 10 trucks with 300 tonnes of mealie meal in Blantyre, a donation from the people of Zimbabwe.
The donations are Zimbabwe’s response to a passionate plea for help by the government of Malawi following the devastating effects of Cyclone Freddy which in some instances whipped whole villages while several thousand more were displaced and left homeless.
The maize meal delivery is only the first of many such interventions by Zimbabwe, among which are medicines, tents, household goods, and many other personal requirements.
Ambassador Saungweme has been around Blantyre on a familiarization tour where thousands of homeless victims are camped to assess their needs for a targeted response.
On Monday, 27 March 2023, President Emmerson Mnangagwa rallied business and the general public in Zimbabwe to pool resources together for a noble cause to assist the people of Malawi in their hour of need.
Speaking at State House at the resource mobilisation meeting, President Mnangagwa expressed his country’s commitment to collaborate in relief aid and experience sharing with the people of Malawi in response to the devastating tragedy which to date has claimed 300 lives.
“Drawing from lessons with regards our response to Cyclone Idai, our goal is to realise the restoration of livelihoods, as well as to complement the ongoing processes to build resilience and adaptive capacities among affected communities ,” said President Mnangagwa.
“…in keeping with our enduring adage, ‘an injury to one is an injury to us all’, and the philosophy of Ubuntu/Hunhu as well as the long standing cordial relationship between our two countries, my government has already donated 30,000 ten kilogram bags of maize meal.”
Malawian President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera launched an international appeal for help in the aftermath of the devastation caused by Cyclone Freddy.
In response to the appeal for assistance, the Zimbabwe Cabinet constituted a Disaster Relief Committee led by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Hon July Moyo, to draw up a comprehensive assistance package for disaster-stricken Malawi.
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