Chronicle Editor
Sione Amidu, Gwanda Correspondent
A total of 200 vulnerable people in Gwanda Town yesterday received Christmas gifts being proceeds from the Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Fund.
The gifts were raised by the Gwanda business community, residents and various stakeholders at the launch of the Mayors’ Cheer Fund a few weeks ago.
The donated items include clothes, food, money and other essential supplies aimed at providing relief to the beneficiaries.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Boaz Kibi Muleya (68) expressed gratitude to the cheer fund committee.
“This is one of the happiest days, what we are seeing here is remarkable. We have never experienced this in our town. We are grateful to the Mayor’s Cheer Fund committee and the Government because it was not going to be possible without them.
“The Bible emphasises giving out to the vulnerable people and this is what we are witnessing today. There are some old people who sleep on an empty stomach but this Christmas will be a memorable one as they will be having goodies,” he said.
“This has been a great lesson to us as the pastors, from this remarkable deed we have learnt to lead by example. As churches we usually receive a lot of money and we use it for other programmes, from now we are going to create our own committee for the purpose of giving to the needy. It was a great lesson indeed.”
Another beneficiary Mr Njabulo Mlilo who is disabled said it was his first time to benefit from such a programme and applauded the Mayor’s Cheer Fund for the remarkable deed.
“We have been remembered and recognised by our mayor, this is a remarkable deed and may the good Lord continue blessing him. He is the talk of the town as we are speaking, people are happy and we are gathered here to receive our goodies.
“People who have benefited include the disabled, old people, orphans, old people’s homes and orphanages in the mining town. We have received goods like mealie-meal, cooking oil, salt, sugar, rice, beans, clothes, blankets just to name a few,” he said.
The chairperson of the Mayor’s Cheer Fund, Mr Akim Mpofu said 200 people have benefited from the programme.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Gwanda residents, business community and other stakeholders who made the day possible.
“The proceeds from the Cheer Fund launch have benefited 200 beneficiaries who were identified by independent individuals from the community. We saw to it that these resources reached the intended beneficiaries, following a public outcry that some of the goodies are not received by their rightful owners.
“We are very grateful to each and every individual who donated to our mining town. For the success of this programme, we worked with the Department of Social Welfare, councillors, churches and Gwanda community members to come up with the rightful beneficiaries,” he said.
In his speech, Gwanda Mayor Councillor Thulani Moyo said it has always been his dream to see vulnerable people living a normal life like everyone else.
He said they are open to any donations and the fund shall continue to run throughout the year.
“Giving to the people has always been my dream and today it has come true, people are not of the same status in the community that is why we have the upper, middle and the lower-class people. The programme was successful and I never thought this day will come true.
“The Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Fund shall continue to run throughout the year and we are open to anyone who wishes to donate. We intend on not giving during Christmas only but throughout the year. The Mayor’s Cheer Fund target for 2023 had been set at US$10 000,” said the mayor.
Online Reporter
Londile Moyo