MDC now a haven of hope for refugees at Central Methodist Church

JOHANNESBURG - MDC led by Professor Welshman Ncube is briskly turning into a haven of hope for hundreds of Zimbabwean refugees residing at Central Methodist Church.

There are growing rumours across Joburg of imminent eviction of vulnerable refugees.

Recently the newly elected MDC provincial leader Leonard Dube helped with placement of young refugees across shelters. He is also now looking after 10 families which used to reside at the church.

Speaking to Bulawayo24 News, Dube expressed sorrow at the living conditions of the vulnerable refugees who are suffering as a result of the economic and political meltdown which engulfed the country in the last decade under the leadership of the octogenarian iron fisted ruler President Robert Mugabe.

"I can't sleep just because of our fellow people living at Methodist church. They are really suffering and no one is helping them at all, I will try my best to do whatever I can to make sure they have a better health life like every human being. I am working with different shelter organisations where we placing children so that they are not affected when the authorities close down the doors of the church as the rumours are growing. We also took in 10 families to different apartments in the central Joburg whom we are assisting with rentals and food staffs for their daily lives. That community of refugees belongs and they are part of us and we will continue helping them despite challenges we are also facing as a party and personal lives," added a soft-spoken Dube.


Secretary with a purpose Khumbu Moyo

MDC Secretary Khumbulani Moyo expressed concern over continued ignorance of refugees by the Zimbabwe Embassy.

"Our people can't be living in those conditions and sleeping without food whilst we have an ambassador here who is supposed to be helping people. We now spend most of our time trying sourcing funds for fellow Zimbabwean to have a better life even though our party is not a ruling party. We need to see those people having a better and normal life like everyone. Together with my chairman Dube, Treasure Ncube, we don't sleep as we are trying to set up a project which will see us as a party helping everyone out those appalling conditions their experiencing at the church," said Moyo.

Tapiwa Mtatsinanise one of the people now residing in a private apartment sourced by the Dube led administration expressed happiness at the development.

"I came here five years ago and I have been living in the church. We get help from the Bishop only and sometimes it's difficult for him. I am pleased with great help by the MDC administration, now I have a proper house for me and my family. We last had a proper life back home in Mutare in 2006. If we have government like this one in the next elections I believe our country will regain its status," she said with a jovial mood.

Bishop Paul Verryn of Methodist said, "He won't stop fighting for the Zimbabwean refugees as they deserve respect and better life like everyone else. There is a reason for them to be there whoever is pondering removing them from those church premises must have a better place for them because we don't want to see more homeless people whilst we can provide little we have as a church. It's not that we saying that they must live there permanently. We have most of them who have moved out after getting employed and one day things will be better if things are not jeopardised by evicting them from that building," said Verryn.

With a month in office, the Dube led administration has been busy helping the needy Zimbabweans across the country. Over the weekend they toured greater Joburg District which includes Diepsloot, Tembisa, Ekurhuleni and Soweto where they also donated food stuffs across Zimbabwean community members.

Two weeks ago, they celebrated President Professor Welshman Ncube's birthday by donating birthday over weekend by donating food stuffs which included more than 300 breads, mealie-mealie, relishes and other daily basic commodities needed in daily life to more than 300 refugees.

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