THE John Landa Nkomo Memorial Trust on Sunday donated mealie-meal to the San community in Tsholotsho with 16,5 tonnes being distributed to 750 households.
Distribution took place at Mtshina Primary School in ward 10 Mtshina, with the trust aiming to alleviate hunger being faced by the villagers in the area.
Villagers revealed that they have been forced to go for days without a meal due the dire hunger situation that has seen more than nine million people needing food aid in Zimbabwe.
“Some villagers go for five days without a meal and this is really sad,” Chief Goledema of the San community, who presided over the distribution of the mealie-meal, said.
“I have a lot of people coming to tell me about the dire situation they are facing and I am happy the JL Nkomo Trust remembered us today with this donation which will give the villagers some relief.
“Our area is very dry and it will take time for us to start preparing for the farming season because people struggle to spend a lot of time in the fields.”
Speaking during the handover ceremony, JL Nkomo Trust chairperson Jabulani Nkomo said they were moved to assist the San community following requests from Tsholotsho South lawmaker, Musa Ncube.
“Chief Goledema requested help and we heard his call. Although it might not be much, we believe it will go a long way in assisting villagers here,” Nkomo said.
He expressed gratitude to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whom he said was behind the injection of funds into the trust.
“The President called me and he introduced me to Wicknell Chivayo saying he asked him to assist the trust because he saw some of the work we are doing and he wants us to do more.
“The President saw the work that my father (John Landa) did, which is the inspiration of the trust and he has been seeing some of our work and he believes we can do more hence assisting us to get funds for the project,” Nkomo said.
The trust, which was also represented by board members, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo and Nyararai Sibanda, adopted a Grade 1 pupil, six-year-old Flatah Ndlovu and promised to pay her tuition fees up to Advanced Level.