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Tedious Manyepo Herald Reporter
THE Zimbabwe National Army is this year targeting to raise over $500 000 for charity, a senior official has said. In an interview yesterday, Staff Officer Grade One for the ZNA charities secretariat, Lieutenant Colonel Fabion Chitungo said the money would go a long way towards assisting the army’s five charities. “We have set our sights on raising around $500 000 for charity this year. If we manage to hit that target, the money will go a long way in ensuring that the underprivileged members of the organisation are taken good care of,” he said.

The ZNA has five charitable organisations which cater for disadvantaged members of the ZNA and their dependants. These include: Patients Welfare Fund, Benevolent Fund, Schools Welfare Trust Fund, Tsanga Lodge Convalescence Centre, and the Widows and Orphans Fund.

Speaking during a fundraising ball at Zimbali gardens in Greendale on Friday last week, ZNA Commander Lieutenant General Philip Valerio Sibanda appealed to individuals and the corporate world to help the organisation address the plight of its needy members by donating in cash or kind.

“I would like to appeal to you fellow countrymen for donations, which the organisation will use towards addressing the plight of our underprivileged members and their dependants. “Some members of the organisation are lying on hospital beds; some are injured, and some are deployed in not-so-hospitable areas, undertaking different tasks like de-mining.

“Their welfare is of paramount importance, so we are appealing for donations in cash or kind to address their well-being. It is indeed people like you who give us the will to carry on,” he said. The charities ball, where a table of ten was going for $1 000, was attended by more than 600 guests.

Besides the ball, the ZNA has lined up other fundraising events throughout the year. These include the ZNA Charities Soccer Tournament, a dinner dance and golf tournament, as well as the charity horse race.

Last year, the ZNA managed to raise $552 877,91 through its fundraising activities.