Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
THE Zanu PF leadership in Mashonaland West will this week visit families affected by the Mbuya Nehanda ferry disaster in Mola, Nyaminyami, to offer condolences and donate food hampers and other essential supplies.
The visit follows the August 11 tragedy, which claimed 97 lives and left families in the Kariba rural community grappling with the loss of their loved ones.
At least 52 of the deceased were from Chief Mola’s area, making the community one of the hardest hit by the disaster. Although Zanu PF members have maintained contact with affected families and visited communities in both urban and rural Kariba since the tragedy, the planned visit will bring together the province’s four party wings under the Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) for a collective outreach programme.
The delegation will pay its respects to the bereaved families, offer solidarity to affected communities and distribute food hampers and other items mobilised before and during the province’s hosting of the party’s 23rd Annual National People’s Conference.
Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial chairperson Cde Mary Mliswa-Chikoka confirmed the planned visit, saying the party remained committed to supporting communities affected by the disaster.
“We have remained in touch with the Mola and Kariba communities following the tragedy. The party has been in contact with the affected families and has sourced food items, among other items.
“As the Provincial Coordinating Committee, comprising all four wings, we will also visit the Mola community, where a lot of people were affected by the tragedy. We will donate food items and other items that we raised before and during the 23rd Annual National People’s Conference that we hosted as a province,” she said.
The outreach comes as preparations are underway for Vice-President Dr Kembo Mohadi to visit the affected families in Mola as part of efforts to offer comfort to those who lost their relatives.
Soon after the disaster, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa visited the affected Kariba community, where she consoled grieving families and acknowledged acts of bravery during the tragedy.
Among those recognised was Ms Taurai Chalibamba, who plunged into the treacherous waters to rescue fellow passengers. She received a cash reward from the First Lady in recognition of her courageous efforts.
Traditional leaders, including Chief Mola and Chief Msampakaruma, have also expressed appreciation for the ruling party’s continued engagement with the rural community as families continue to deal with the aftermath of the tragedy.
