The Methodist Church in Zimbabwe (MCZ) has put its shoulder to the wheel towards assisting Cyclone Idai survivors in Chimanimani by donating more than 100 tonnes of an assortment of goods.
The goods include kitchen utensils, food items, toiletries, blankets, 180 by 25 litre containers filled with borehole water, new and used clothes for all age groups and mattresses among others.
MCZ Mission director, Reverend Blessmore Chinhara said the goods were donated by members of the church from across the length and breadth of the country.
The sourcing of the goods was spearheaded by the church’s Christian Social Responsibility and Human Rights (CSR&HR) Committee in liaison with the Methodist Development and Relief Authority (MeDRA).
The CSR&HR Committee is the MCZ’s wing which attends to socio-economic challenges including disasters and crises that affect any member of society within and outside the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe while MeDRA is the development arm of the church.
Rev Chinhara said the response from members of the church was overwhelming with donations coming from as far as Bulawayo. He said it was comforting to see the congregants mobilizing goods which were able to fill three loads of 30 tonne trucks and another two loads of eight tonne and 20 tonne trucks.
“The exercise is being coordinated by a core team made of CSR&HR Committee and MeDRA representatives in liaison with every district. The response has been overwhelming and we are also grateful to our membership from as far as Gweru and Bulawayo for their kind hearts,” said Rev Chinhara.
The first 30 tonne truck left Harare for Mutare on Tuesday while the second left early Thursday morning and the third on Saturday morning. One of the trucks went straight to Chimanimani from Bulawayo. The rest were ferried from Trinity Methodist in Harare central business district to Mutare for onward transmission to victims in Chimanimani.
From Harare the goods were taken to St Andrews MCZ’s warehouse in Mutare before being handed over to Miracle Missions representatives who are handling the goods taking them to Chimanimani.
The hierarchy of the MCZ led by Presiding Bishop Rev Dr Solomon Zwana, Rev Chinhara, Marondera District Bishop Rev Morrison Chiwundura, Lay president Mrs Munyoro and a team of ministers handed over the goods to government officials led by Minister of State for Manicaland Ellen Gwaradzimba and Miracle Mission representatives in Mutare.
They then proceeded to Chimanimani where they handed over some of the goods to beneficiaries.
“We managed to visit Chimanimani town and met with the victims who are staying at Chimanimani Hotel. We thank God that we were able to hold a prayer service there and offered words of comfort as well,” said Rev Chinhara.
The MCZ team had an opportunity to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Idai and is now planning to send ministers for three days for counselling sessions as well as to hold a memorial service.
The MCZ also took a cue from the declaration by President Emmerson Mnangagwa for two days of mourning by holding two church services last Saturday and Sunday (23 and 24 March).
The First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa attended the Saturday service held at Trinity Methodist Church led by Rev Dr Zwana while President Mnangagwa attended the Sunday service held at Mabelreign MCZ led by Rev Dr Jimmy Dube.
Said Rev Chinhara: “We did not go just to distribute food but also to preach the word. The Methodist Church believes in social gospel in which we assist the needy in any way possible and one such way is the soup kitchen through which we feed over a 100 street children every week.”
Over 30 volunteers helped with sorting and packing of the goods donated by members.
