News / Regional
John Landa Nkomo Memorial Trust donates mealie meal to San community
06 Nov 2024 at 17:19hrs | Views
The John Landa Nkomo Memorial Trust on Sunday donated mealie meal to the San community in Tsholotsho with 16.5 tonnes being distributed to 750 households.
Distribution took place at Mtshina Primary School in Ward 10 Mtshina with the Trust aiming at alleviating the hunger situation facing villagers in the area.
Villagers revealed they have been forced to go for days without a meal due the the dire hunger situation that has seen more than nine million people needing food aid in Zimbabwe.
Chief Goledema of the San community presided over the distribution of the mealie meal worth 250 000 rands said he was a relieved man to see his villagers get food as the situation in the area is depressing.
"Some villagers go for five days without a meal and this is really sad. I have lot of people coming to tell me about the dire situation they are facing and I am happy the JL Nkomo Trust remembered us today with this donation which will give the villagers some reprieve.
"Most of them are getting one meal a day while some can go as long a five days without eating and this is pretty sad.
"Our area is very dry and it will take time for us to start preparing for the farming season because people struggle to spend a lot of time in the fields," he said.
Speaking during the handover, JL Nkomo Trust chairman, Jabulani Nkomo said they were moved to assist the San community following requests from the Tsholotsho South Member of Parliament, Cde Musa Ncube and Chief Goledema.
He said it was the first of many acts they will do to uplift the San community in Tsholotsho.
"We were approached by your MP Musa Ncube who asked us to do something for this community and we obliged.
"Chief Goledema also requested help and we heard his call. Although it might not be much we believe it will go along way in assisting villagers here," said Nkomo.
He expressed gratitude to President Emmerson Mnangagwa whom he said was behind the injection of funds in the Trust, which they are now using to impact on people's lives in Tsholotsho and other areas.
"The President called me and he introduced me to Wicknell Chivayo saying he asked him to assist the Trust because he saw some of the work we are doing and be wants us to do more.
"The President saw the work that my father (John Landa) did, which is the inspiration of the Trust and he has been seeing some of our work and he believes we can do more hence assisting us to get funds for the project," said Nkomo.
Honourable Ncube said the President has spearheaded a lot of projects for the San Community including creating a chieftainship, building the Garia Dam, a clinic and facilitating that they acquire birth certificates something that had been a struggle before.
"The President has reiterated that no one should be left behind hence efforts have been made to ensure that youths from the San community are given jobs and some have been absorbed into nursing, police and Zimparks," she said.
The Trust, which was also represented by board members, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo and Nyararai Sibanda, adopted a grade one pupil, six year old Flatah Ndlovu, who they said they will pay school fees for beginning this year until she reaches A Level.
The Trust was created to continue the philanthrophic work of late Vice President, John Landa Nkomo in Tsholotsho and has spearheaded several projects including hosting a sports tournament in the district
Distribution took place at Mtshina Primary School in Ward 10 Mtshina with the Trust aiming at alleviating the hunger situation facing villagers in the area.
Villagers revealed they have been forced to go for days without a meal due the the dire hunger situation that has seen more than nine million people needing food aid in Zimbabwe.
Chief Goledema of the San community presided over the distribution of the mealie meal worth 250 000 rands said he was a relieved man to see his villagers get food as the situation in the area is depressing.
"Some villagers go for five days without a meal and this is really sad. I have lot of people coming to tell me about the dire situation they are facing and I am happy the JL Nkomo Trust remembered us today with this donation which will give the villagers some reprieve.
"Most of them are getting one meal a day while some can go as long a five days without eating and this is pretty sad.
"Our area is very dry and it will take time for us to start preparing for the farming season because people struggle to spend a lot of time in the fields," he said.
Speaking during the handover, JL Nkomo Trust chairman, Jabulani Nkomo said they were moved to assist the San community following requests from the Tsholotsho South Member of Parliament, Cde Musa Ncube and Chief Goledema.
He said it was the first of many acts they will do to uplift the San community in Tsholotsho.
"We were approached by your MP Musa Ncube who asked us to do something for this community and we obliged.
"Chief Goledema also requested help and we heard his call. Although it might not be much we believe it will go along way in assisting villagers here," said Nkomo.
He expressed gratitude to President Emmerson Mnangagwa whom he said was behind the injection of funds in the Trust, which they are now using to impact on people's lives in Tsholotsho and other areas.
"The President called me and he introduced me to Wicknell Chivayo saying he asked him to assist the Trust because he saw some of the work we are doing and be wants us to do more.
"The President saw the work that my father (John Landa) did, which is the inspiration of the Trust and he has been seeing some of our work and he believes we can do more hence assisting us to get funds for the project," said Nkomo.
Honourable Ncube said the President has spearheaded a lot of projects for the San Community including creating a chieftainship, building the Garia Dam, a clinic and facilitating that they acquire birth certificates something that had been a struggle before.
"The President has reiterated that no one should be left behind hence efforts have been made to ensure that youths from the San community are given jobs and some have been absorbed into nursing, police and Zimparks," she said.
The Trust, which was also represented by board members, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo and Nyararai Sibanda, adopted a grade one pupil, six year old Flatah Ndlovu, who they said they will pay school fees for beginning this year until she reaches A Level.
The Trust was created to continue the philanthrophic work of late Vice President, John Landa Nkomo in Tsholotsho and has spearheaded several projects including hosting a sports tournament in the district
Source - Byo24News