Chronicle Editor
Mthabisi Tshuma recently in Nyathi
CATHOLIC organisations Cordaid Netherlands and Caritas Zimbabwe have availed US$200 000 which is meant to develop water sanitation projects and alleviate poverty in Bubi District, Matabeleland North Province.
Cordaid Netherlands is the donor under the Catholic Church while Caritas Zimbabwe is the official Catholic agency for humanitarian and development work in Zimbabwe. The funding comes in light of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic which requires exercising of personal hygiene.
Handing over food donations that would benefit 1 515 villagers in Ward 22 and Ward 11 in Mpolompolo Village in Bubi District on Thursday, Caritas Zimbabwe Bulawayo development coordinator Mr Welcome Sibanda said the fund is part of a programme to implement development in poverty-stricken areas.
“Through the funding of US$200 000 from Cordaid, our sister organisation based in the Netherlands, we are targeting to provide food aid to vulnerable homes in Bubi District. The food aid is meant to address the issue of drought which mostly has affected rural areas as most relied on subsistence farming,” said Mr Sibanda.
Mr Sibanda said his organisation was in the process of identifying boreholes in the district to rehabilitate so as to ensure villagers have access to adequate water.
“Of the three components that we are mostly focusing on, water and sanitation are our key areas and we will be rehabilitating boreholes so that villagers have clean water. Our aim is to achieve the provision of clean drinking water and adequate sewage disposal where we are to build 200 latrine toilets in the district,” said Mr Sibanda.
Ward 22 councillor, Thandazile Dube said the food donation which consisted of mealie-meal, cooking oil and sugar beans will help the community as many are unemployed and cannot fend for themselves.
“With the food that has been donated, the process of providing the food necessary for health and growth has been realised.
“Covid-19 has left many people poor in this area as they are not able to go about their usual business which mostly is mining,” she said.
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Bongani Ndlovu