The ManicaPost
Wimbainashe Zhakata Post correspondent
CARITAS Zimbabwe yesterday received an assortment of foodstuffs valued at $12 000 and a three tonne truck load of second hand clothes meant for Cyclone Idai relief efforts in Chimanimani and Chipinge districts.
The donation was mobilised by the Gweru Roman Catholic Diocese from church members, hospitals and schools, among others.
The handing was done at the Roman Catholic bishop’s residence in Mutare.
Caritas finance and admin officer Mrs Nomatter Tseriwa told The Manica Post that the gesture by their Gweru counterparts will make a positive difference in the lives Cyclone Idai survivors in Chimanimani and Chipinge.
“We appreciate the assistance from our sister diocese in Gweru. We are still receiving donations from other organisations because we are mainly involved in humanitarian assistance and offer support services to vulnerable communities.
“Currently we are receiving Cyclone Idai donations from local Roman Catholic churches, as well as international Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) such as Catholic Agency for Overseers Development (CAFOD) and Catholic Relief Service (CRS), among others,” said Mrs Tseriwa.
She said Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, recently donated US$16000 to assist St Charles Luwanga students that had been dispersed to other schools following the destruction of their learning facilities by Cyclone Idai.
“The Pope donated US$16 000 to assist the students at St Charles Luwanga that had been dispersed to other schools around the province. The money was meant to help them with text books and food, among other personal needs,” she said.
Mrs Tseriwa said CARITAS Zimbabwe was working with Government to identify places that need help the most.
Father Benard Digweyi, from the Gweru Roman Catholic Diocese, said the donations were mobilised from Catholic churches in Midlands. He said the donations were meant to benefit the survivors in Chimanimani and Chipinge districts.
The hand-over was also graced by Bishop Paul Horan, who gracefully appreciated the gesture and described it as God-inspired.
“This is a great solidarity from our counterparts the Midlands, we are grateful, but we still need a lot of assistance until such a time that the livelihoods of the victims are fully restored,” he said.
