Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube , Victoria Falls Reporter
A LOCAL charity organisation has donated clothes and is targeting more than 400 people living with disabilities in and around Victoria Falls as part of its programme to cushion the vulnerable against the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The global pandemic struck economies across the world and people living with disabilities are the hardest hit.
Many of them depend on their families and well-wishers who were also affected by the pandemic which disrupted world economies.
Abangane-Shamwari Disabled Persons Development Organisation Trust mobilised clothes and is distributing to people living with disabilities in Victoria Falls and surrounding communities.
Women and children in Victoria Falls have since received the donations while men are set to receive their share soon.
Those in Chisuma and Kachechete will receive theirs today.
Abangane-Shamwari founder and director Ms Senzelwe Jubane said people living with disabilities were the hardest hit by the pandemic hence the decision to mobilise clothes for them.
Families’ disposable incomes were affected by the pandemic forcing many to forgo buying clothes.
“We received a donation of clothes from different churches in Bulawayo and we are distributing to people living with disabilities in Victoria Falls and surrounding communities in Chisuma and Kachechete. We are targeting those who are members of the association but those that are not members are not being turned away,” said Ms Jubane, who is also board member for Matabeleland North provincial board for persons living with disabilities.
On Saturday they were donating to scores of women living with disabilities after a similar exercise targeting children last weekend.
Abangane-Shamwari partnered with the Victoria Falls Disabled Persons Association and support groups to mobilise beneficiaries.
One of the beneficiaries Ms Sakhile Mpunzi (37) said the donation was timely for her and her three children.
She has three physically challenged children.
“We are really grateful for this gesture. We don’t have money or any source of income hence we had to forgo buying clothes. We thank the donors for responding to our needs and wish God could bless them,” she said.
Ms Senzeni Ndlovu from the Victoria Falls Disabled Persons Association said people living with disabilities need support.
“We have some people who have no means at all. We thank Abangane for this gesture which has come in at a time when the giving hand of well-wishers has been affected by Covid-19. We as an association coordinated the beneficiaries through our structures. We have about 450 registered members in Victoria Falls and most women and children have benefited,” she said.
-@ncubeleon
Londile Moyo
Bongani Ndlovu