Zion Christian Church charity arm distributes food hampers to more than 1 000 in Chimanimani

More than 1000 families from the Cyclone Idai ravaged Chipinge and Chimanimani districts last week received food hampers, clothes and shoes from Rugare Community Relief Services (RUCORS), the charity arm of the Zion Christian Church led by Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi.

Cyclone Idai, which hit the country on March 15, left 344 people dead. About 260 are still missing.

One of the ZCC leaders for the area, Saul Chivasa, said they had so far identified two members of the church who died as well as two parents of church members.

RUCORS delivered a total of 18 tonnes of goods to Chipinge and Chimanimani communities with only three tonnes going to Chipinge as it was less affected than Chimanimani.

The consignment included maize meal, rice, sugar, cooking oil, soap, 20 bales of used clothes and three bales of second-hand shoes.

The three tonnes at Chipinge were handed over to the Civil Protection Unit on 1 April in the presence of a representative of local Member of Parliament Raymore Machingura of Chipinge Central.

The bulk of the goods were distributed to Ngangu, Machongwe and Rusitu Valley which were the worst affected.

At Ngangu some 586 families were given food hampers, clothes and shoes by Chivasa assisted by Panganai Chirongera  the councillor for Ward 15 who is also the Chimanimani Urban Council vice-chairman.

A total of seven tonnes of goods were distributed at Ngangu.

Only 117 beneficiaries were members of the ZCC while the rest were members of the community.

The same formula was used at Machongwe where eight tonnes of goods were delivered with 1.2 tonnes being reserved for Rusitu Valley.

At Machongwe more than 500 families benefitted with only 160 being members of the ZCC. The beneficiaries included 5 village heads and Machongwe Clinic. Some of the goods were reserved for orphans and old people who were still to be identified.

The programme at Machongwe and Rusitu Valley was coordinated by Chimanimani East Member of Parliament Joshua Sacco, who is also a senior ZCC leader in the area.

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