Chronicle Editor
The appeal for help to assist victims of tropical Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani and Chipinge districts in Manicaland which were the hardest hit, got overwhelming response from Zimbabweans locally and abroad as well as Zimbabwe’s friends across the globe.
The cyclone has so far claimed more than 300 lives, hundreds are still missing and thousands others have been displaced.
Goods meant to assist victims have been mobilised locally and from friends of Zimbabwe across the globe.
The bulk of the goods which include clothes, blankets, food and even household utensils which have been mobilised across the country and from friends of Zimbabwe in different countries, are awaiting delivery to Manicaland.
Government, working with different non-governmental organisations and corporates, has managed to move and distribute some of the donated goods to the victims.
The donations are being moved by road to beneficiaries and in areas where roads are still impassable after bridges were washed away by the devastating cyclone, the donations are being airlifted.
Countries such as China, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Tanzania, Botswana and Britain among others have supported the country with food, blankets, drugs and cash to assist the cyclone victims.
China has even offered to assist in rebuilding the destroyed infrastructure in Chimanimani which was among the worst affected areas.
Many local companies have also donated food, drugs, clothes, blankets and cash to the victims of the cyclone and most of the donations are also awaiting delivery to Manicaland.
Government has said more than 40 000 people affected by the cyclone are in urgent need of food aid hence it is airlifting food to areas that are not accessible by road as it works on opening the roads rendered impassable after the bridges were washed away by the cyclone .
It is therefore disturbing to learn that we have in our midst shameless individuals who are busy stealing the donations meant to assist the victims.
A deputy director in the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Christine Chideme, last Saturday appeared in court facing charges of stealing Cyclone Idai donations worth $3 000.
Last Thursday a police officer, Constable Edward Dhumukwa (32) stationed at Silver Stream command centre also appeared in court for allegedly looting cyclone donations worth thousands of dollars.
Dhumukwa allegedly hired a kombi to ferry his loot for five kilometers to a roadside where he loaded it into a Harare-bound bus.
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga last week said officials implicated in abuse of Cyclone Idai donations must face lengthy jail terms.
“I want to warn civil servants, workers from different organisations and all those involved in distribution of goods donated to victims of Cyclone Idai that they will go to jail if they steal the donations,” said VP Chiwenga.
We totally agree with VP Chiwenga that these heartless individuals deserve to be incarcerated for long periods.
Individuals and countries are sacrificing to assist the cyclone victims and we cannot afford to hurt them by stealing the donations.
We want at this juncture to implore Government and all organisations involved in the distribution of the donations to tighten the controls to minimise, if not to completely eradicate pilferage.
Online Reporter