First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, through the Angel of Hope Foundation, donated 8 tonnes of rice to help families affected by the October 5 hailstorm that left a trail of destruction in Masvingo City and surrounding areas.

The donation came after the Government, development partners and churches last Saturday rolled out a food and tents distribution programme targeting 6 700 families deemed to be vulnerable in the wake of the hailstorm disaster.

An initial cohort of 643 families from Ward 7 in Victoria Ranch suburb in the city was the first to receive the food and tents as more help continued to flow after President Mnangagwa declared the tragedy a state of disaster.

Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira handed over the rice donated by the Mother of the Nation to the provincial Civil Protection Unit that was represented by the Director for Local Government in his office Ms Netsai Mushaviri in the presence of members of the Masvingo Joint Operations Command.

Speaking during the handover at his Benjamin Burombo Government Complex Offices, Minister Chadzamira paid tribute to the First Lady for being there for families affected by the hailstorm in Masvingo.

“We are very happy that the wife of our President, the First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, has also lend a hand to assist victims of the hailstorm disaster that affected many families in Masvingo City and surrounding areas on October 5, and we are grateful because this donation will benefit many people who will be able to beef up their food stocks with the First Lady’s donation,’’ said Minister Chadzamira.

“Many families lost their food stocks to the hailstorm and we want to also call upon other citizens and businesses to take a leaf from what the Mother of the Nation has done and also lent their own hands to help fellow compatriots who emerged worse off from the disaster in Masvingo.’’

Minister Chadzamira thanked President Mnangagwa’s administration for leading from the front in the ongoing relief efforts to help the affected families rebuild their lives.

Food and tents distribution had now moved to all the 10 wards in Masvingo City and surrounding areas targeting first the most vulnerable groups that include people living with disabilities, child headed families and the elderly.

The Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister also disclosed that assessments were also underway to establish the extent of damage to houses that were affected by the hailstorm so that the victims could also receive compensation.

“We also want to thank the Government for this move to compensate those families who had their roofs’ houses blown off and windows damaged, the assessments are ongoing and this shows that the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa cares for the people. We are also grateful to other stakeholders and individuals who are giving assistance so that we affected people can rebuild their lives.’’

More than 17 000 households were affected by the hailstorm  and out of that number nearly 7 000 were identified to be in the first cohort of beneficiaries after they were deemed to be vulnerable.

The hailstorm also caused a power blackout in Masvingo City for several days but power has now been restored in most areas while hospitals, schools and government offices and business premises were also not spared in the disaster that has been described by some as the worst in living memory. – Herald