Harare- President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday rallied the local private sector to unveil humanitarian support towards Malawi, which was at the receiving end of the devastating Tropical Cyclone Freddy, which brought massive rains that killed hundreds of people and displaced thousands others.
Following the floods, Malawi declared a state of disaster in the affected areas and called for international assistance to cope with the large scale disaster.
In response to the appeal, the Zimbabwe government quickly mobilised maize meal and other necessities which have already been dispatched to Malawi.
The latest mobilisation efforts which now includes the local private sector.
Adressing captains of Industry at State House, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe stands in full support of and empathises with Malawi.
“I want to commend, the ongoing collaboration of the Department of Civil Protection of Zimbabwe, Disaster Mitigation and Management Unit of Malawi and the SADC Humanitarian Emergency Operations Centre for the successful coordinated responses realised to date.
“Equally, the gaps and attendant areas that require urgent attention are critical. These give us strategic pointers towards helping our dear brothers and sisters to build back better, faster and stronger,” he said.
“In keeping with our enduring adage, an injury to one is an injury to us all and the philosophy of Ubuntu/Hunhu as well as the long standing cordial relations between our two countries, my Government through ZimAid has already donated 30 000 ten kg bags of maize meal.
“To augment such efforts and the desire to see the accelerated reduction of the impact of Tropical Cyclone Freddy disaster in Malawi, I take the opportunity of this gathering to appeal to you our captains of industry and all well-wishers across the country and including those in the diaspora to play part in our collective national resource mobilisation.”
President Mnangagwa said the goal of supporting Malawi was to realise the restoration of livelihoods as well as to complement the ongoing processes to build resilience and adaptive capacities among affected communities.
“Together, as the people of Zimbabwe, from all provinces, socio-economic spectrum, churches and across the gender divide, let us rally all our efforts to assist the people of Malawi. Blessed is the hand that gives, brings hope, love and care,” he said.
According to statistics, Tropical Cyclone Freddy left approximately 35 000 people internally displaced, and at least 500 dead, and thousands injured in Malawi.
Last week, the Southern African Development Community approved the release of US$300 000 towards humanitarian assistance to Malawi.
Fears are rife that the floods in Malawi will exercebate existing challenges such as poverty, and cholera.
Before the floods hit, Malawi was already battling to tame a deadly cholera outbreak in some parts of that country.
