Zimpapers Logo

Herald Reporter

Nestlé Zimbabwe has donated an assortment of foodstuffs to the people of Malawi affected by Tropical Cyclone Freddy through the Malawi Red Cross Society.

The donation includes ready to use food comprising cereals with milk, sour porridge and noodles valued at over US$27 000 was handed over to the Malawi Deputy Ambassador to Zimbabwe Major General Elias Mpaso at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Cross Societies (IFRC) offices in Harare.

Handing over the donation, Nestlé Zimbabwe’s representative Ms Tavia Matikiti said:

“It is an honour for us to extend a helping hand towards victims of such a calamity. We believe the donated food will play a critical role in supporting the affected communities meeting some of their food needs.”

One hundred and ninety-three people are still missing with 1 033 injured; 330 759 people (66 152 households) have been affected, and 133 153 people (26 631 households) have been displaced to 239 camps, evacuation centres and host families. At least 88 000 people require urgent food and livelihoods support.

Malawi Deputy Ambassador to Zimbabwe Major General Mpaso hailed Nestlé Zimbabwe for the donation adding that they were overwhelmed by the support rendered to Malawians affected by floods.

He said he was particularly grateful to the Red Cross Movement for being the first to give assistance when the disaster struck in March.

“The Red Cross in Malawi were the first humanitarian organization to respond when the floods struck. They have been with us throughout the emergency and now recovery phases. Your assistance is timely because people need more food, shelter among many other necessities. This donation will go a long way in mitigating the impact of the disaster. We are overwhelmed. Thank you for hearing our cry,” he said.

IFRC Head of Country Cluster Delegation for Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi Mr John Antony Roche said they were grateful for their long-standing partnership with Nestlé.

“We are happy with this initiative to support Malawi which has gone through a lot of hardships worsened by the floods as well as cholera. While growing humanitarian needs outweigh available resources, we are grateful to our partners who have been extremely helpful. We are glad we continue to collaborate in serving humanity,” said Mr Roche.

Zimbabwe Red Cross Society, ZRCS, secretary general Mr Elias Hwenga encouraged the Zimbabwe community to assist their Malawian counterparts affected by the tragedy in the spirit of Ubuntu with financial and material aid to ease the impact of the floods on their lives.

“This call seeks to highlight the inherent African spirit of empathy, humanity and friendly attitude by helping each other with whatever we can afford, minding that a friend in need is a friend indeed and a problem shared is half solved.

“Helping the next person is not about having much but having the heart to help. Whatever small contributions that Zimbabweans give towards supporting Malawians affected by floods will collectively make a big difference in the lives of those that lack,” said Mr Hwenga.

At least 225 people were confirmed dead in Malawi after Tropical Storm Freddy ripped through Southern Africa for the second time in a month.

This has caused extensive damage to houses and public infrastructure, loss of crops and livestock in Blantyre City, Blantyre District, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Machinga, Mulanje, Neno, Nsanje, Phalombe, Thyolo, Zomba City, and Zomba District.

President Mnangagwa recently visited Malawi and went to Mount Soche in Blantyre, which affected by Cyclone Freddy donated an assortment of goods.

The President handed over a consignment of goods to the affected people and highlighted the strong bond developing between the two countries and the spirit of Ubuntu.

The goods included cement, groceries and kitchen utensils amongst other basic necessities.