Vic Falls Residents Forced To Use Bush Toilet As Water Shortages Rock Town

 VICTORIA FALLS: The tourism town of Victoria Falls is facing an unprecedented water crisis that has seen residents in parts of Mkhosana going for a fortnight without the precious liquid.

The worst affected dwellers are those in Mfelandawonye, BD847, BD848, and BD46 sections which have not had water in their taps for more than two weeks.

What characterises most households now are an offensive strong stink of poo as there is no water to flush toilets posing a huge health time bomb to a town that is set to be granted city status.

Some residents have resorted to using the bush to relieve themselves with open defecation now rife.

The municipality has restored to supply the residents with water bowsers and long winding queues of thirsty residents jostling to fill their buckets as they endure the hot weather without water.

Residents are pressuring the residents’ association to stage a demonstration against the local council and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) which pumps bulk water to the municipality.

The residents believe there is a lack of commitment from the council and ZINWA as the water shortages have become a perennial challenge.

Every year between September and December, the resort town’s residents have to endure the hot weather with no water.

Unlike other towns, there are no boreholes in Victoria Falls because of the Kalahari soils and depth of water table.

“The situation is dire. Some areas have not had water for two weeks and you can imagine how people are surviving. Having to hunt for water each morning. This is happening when hotels are closed and where demand is low. Imagine if the whole industry was open, we would have had waterborne diseases. People are now using the bush to relieve themselves and we fear disease outbreak,” said one resident.

Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association chairperson, Kelvin Moyo called for calm saying engagement with the authorities was underway.

“Our town is faced with an unprecedented water crisis that has affected both residents and business. Residents are agitated and want to demonstrate. We are aware of the urgency this matter requires and as such we will be convening a tripartite meeting with ZINWA and council management. The situation needs to be attended to with a sober mind in order to resolve the perennial challenge,” said Moyo.

Source: Vic Falls Residents Forced To Use Bush Toilet As Water Shortages Rock Town (4/11/20)

Victoria Falls helps itself with 100,000 free children's meals

Yesterday the Victoria Falls Children's Feeding Programme, established to provide regular free meals to school-age children across the town, reached a landmark of 100,000 meals served since it started in mid-July.

Service time at one of the seven community kitchens.

It has been estimated that more than three quarters of workers in Victoria Falls have been unemployed since the implementation of the international tourism close-down at the end of March. A significant portion of those retained by the industry are on reduced hours and pay.

The programme is the result of huge efforts on the ground as businesses and communities have joined forces to establish and then scale up this huge operation. Hotels and lodges have donated perishables including vegetables and salads from their kitchen gardens, national and regional companies and businesses donated other food supplies, allowing provision of nutritiously balanced meals. Local restaurants have enrolled their staff to help prepare ingredients and tourism operators have provided supporting storage and transport logistics.

Service time at one of the seven community kitchens.

Grateful thanks to the amazing individuals making all this happen on the ground, including Russell Manenji, Executive Chef at Shearwater Explorers Village (external link, opens in a new window), who leads the programme and the daily organisation of the kitchens, menus and food preparation (together with support from Chef Ngamani of the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge Boma), Gail van Jaarsveldt, Dani Connolly and Christie Brookstein from the Jafuta Foundation (external link) and the whole of the Pastor’s group who have worked tirelessly to set up the programme.

Gail van Jaarsveldt of the Jafuta Foundation is leading fundraising efforts to support this much needed programme: "We are appealing for those of you that can, wherever you are, to please join hands with us so that the community food kitchens can continue for as long as they are needed. As a result of all the amazing local food donations it only costs 25c to provide each meal. The kitchens are now serving well over 4,000 children every day - meaning we need to find over $1,000 each day to keep this incredible project running!"

For more information - www.victoriafallsappeal.com

Follow on Facebook - Victoria Falls Good Causes

Donate: JustGiving

Further Information

The Pastors Counselling and Community Support Group has been central to the introduction of this programme. This group is made up of representatives from the Union for the Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe Africa (UDACIZA), the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), and Victoria Falls Ministers Fraternity among others and is open to all Christian affiliations.

Utilising seven churches and school locations across Chinotimba and Mkhosana, the Children’s Feeding Programme, organised by the Pastoral Counselling and Community Support Group and the Victoria Falls Covid-19 Taskforce, aims to supply one meal per day, Monday to Friday for school-age children in the region. It is estimated that there are approximately 8,000 children enrolled in different schools across Victoria Falls.

The Victoria Falls Covid-19 TaskForce was established by Government, local Council and Municipality departments, tourism stakeholders, community groups and concerned residents to develop a coordinated response and preparedness strategy in the face of the global pandemic and collapse of tourism in Victoria Falls.

The TaskForce Food Security Group, together with the support of local tourism operators, community groups, charitable foundations and concerned individuals have launched fundraising appeals and targeted the delivery of its support through several key area initiatives and programmes.

Launched on 14th July, the first day of the Children's Feeding Programme opened with two community kitchens serving over 400 children, and one week later all seven community kitchens were operational, with a total of 14,314 meals served over the first 7 days of the programme. By the second week of the Programme over 4,000 meals were being served each day.

 

Vegetables beat Covid-19

 Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter

WHILE the Covid-19 may have left citizens devastated by loss of business and jobs, others have used the opportunity to start gardening projects to improve their families’ livelihoods.

A random check around Chinotimba and Mkhosana high density suburbs in Victoria Falls showed that almost every household now has a booming vegetable garden.

Over the years, Victoria Falls residents would rely on buying vegetables from Zambian vendors popularly known as omzanga who would cross the border daily using temporary passes to sell goods including vegetables, tomatoes, green mealies, sweet potatoes and second hand clothes.

Some vegetables also came from as far as Lupane and Umguza districts as well as Bulawayo, Chegutu, Harare and Gokwe.

Because of the distance, vegetables were expensive in Victoria Falls where a bundle that is generally worth US$1 in Bulawayo was sold for between US$3 and US$5 in Victoria Falls.

Kalahari soils which make farming less viable and borehole drilling unthinkable also contributed to less people doing gardening as there are no community boreholes like in other towns.

People would afford to buy vegetables from shops and vendors and not worry about growing their own because they had disposable income from the tourism industry.

However, the outbreak of Covid-19 changed lifestyles as many have been left jobless.

While some have resorted to complaining about life becoming tougher or others resorting to flouting lockdown regulations by frequenting drinking spots such as shebeens, others have become industrious and started viable horticulture businesses that have literally turned Victoria Falls green.

Mr Herbert Masunda of Chinotimba, who was employed by African Sun, said gardening has become his family’s source of income.

“I have been doing gardening as hobby for many years but now because of lockdown I have realised that it’s actually a source of livelihood. I have more time to work in the garden because I have nothing else to do and this has improved our livelihoods because we now have enough vegetable supply for consumption. We also sell some and use the money to buy mealie meal and other basics,” he said.

Mr Masunda said he can make US$5 per week.

“There are few customers these days because of the situation as almost everyone is growing vegetables in their backyards,” he said.

Mrs Sikhangeziwe Nyathi of Mkhosana said she makes US$5 per day from her garden.

She is one of dozens residents who established gardens at an open space near Smart Corner.

“I have been doing gardening since 2009 but this time I have plenty vegetables compared to other years. This is because I have nothing else to do since I am not going to work because of the lockdown and have dedicated all the time to gardening.

“On a good day I can get US$5 and we are able to buy mealie meal, meat and other basics from that. Generally, almost everyone now has a garden and some come here to get suckers and seedlings for their gardens. So, we are now drying most of the vegetables because you may not know what the future holds, we may run out of water and need these dried vegetables in future,” she said.

Some have started community gardens here and they work as groups.

Ms Loveness Nyoni, coordinator of Energy Star Smart Garden which was established by 20 members on 18 May in Mkhosana said: “This has become a source of income. We are members of Women’s Voice

Housing Cooperative Society Limited and people had stopped paying subscriptions because of the situation, but since we started the garden, we have resumed paying using money from sale of vegetables.”

The 20 members fetch water from Ms Nyoni’s nearby house for the garden and share the water bill.

The taskforce on Covid-19 has also capacitated residents and villagers outside Victoria Falls with seedlings to start gardening projects.

Pastor Stanfordias Ndlovu who heads the pastors’ wing of the taskforce said the idea is to mitigate against effects of Covid-19 and make sure families have food.

“Many are now selling to the feeding scheme hence they have stable source of income for the time being,” he said.-@ncubeleon

Source: Vegetables beat Covid-19  (20/08/20)

Victoria Falls Community Programme Serves up 50,000 Children's meals

With virtually the entire town of Victoria Falls out of work due to the collapse of tourism, and with no source of income to support their families, children are bearing the brunt of run-on effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on our community. Most are not getting more than one small bowl of maize porridge or bread a day. 

Utilising seven churches and school locations across Chinotimba and Mkhosana, the Children’s Feeding Programme, organised by the Pastoral Counselling and Community Support Group and the Victoria Falls Covid-19 Taskforce, aims to supply one meal per day, Monday to Friday for school-age children in the region. It is estimated that there are approximately 8,000 children enrolled in different schools across Victoria Falls.

Launched on 14th July, the first day of the program opened with two community kitchens serving over 400 children, and one week later all seven community kitchens were operational, with a total of 14,314 meals served over the first 7 days of the programme.

By the second week of the Programme over 4,000 meals were being served each day, and by the 13th day a total of over 40,000 meals had been served by the Programme through its seven community kitchens - reaching a landmark total of 50,000 meals on the 16th day.

The Pastors Counselling and Community Support Group has been central to the introduction of this programme. This group is made up of representatives from the Union for the Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe Africa (UDACIZA), the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), and Victoria Falls Ministers Fraternity among others and is open to all Christian affiliations.

Hundreds of face masks have also been distributed to the children through the kitchens, which also gave the pastors an opportunity to take temperatures and assess the health of each child.

The programme is the result of huge efforts on the ground as businesses and communities have joined forces to establish and then scale up this huge operation. Hotels and lodges have donated perishables including vegetables and salads from their kitchen gardens, national and regional companies and businesses donated other food supplies, allowing provision of nutritiously balanced meals. Local restaurants have enrolled their staff to help prepare ingredients and tourism operators have provided supporting storage and transport logistics.

Grateful thanks to the amazing individuals making all this happen on the ground, including Gail van Jaarsveldt, Dani Connolly and Christie Brookstein from the Jafuta Foundation, Chef Russell from Shearwater Adventures, Brian Nyamande and the Pastor’s group who have worked tirelessly to set up this programme.

Gail van Jaarsveldt of the Jafuta Foundation is leading fundraising efforts to support this much needed programme: "We are appealing for those of you that can, to please join hands with us to help in anyway that you can so that our children’s Food Kitchens will continue for as long as we are able, or for as long as they are necessary until international aid reaches us. It costs us 25c to give one child a nutritious meal, once a day."

It has been estimated that more than three quarters of workers in Victoria Falls have been unemployed for more than three months after the implementation of the tourism close-down at the end of March. A significant portion of those retained by the industry are on reduced hours and pay.

For more information - www.victoriafallsappeal.com

Follow on Facebook - Victoria Falls Good Causes

Donate: JustGiving

5 000 Vic Falls Children Go Hungry As Feeding Scheme Is Suspended

ABOUT 5 000 vulnerable children in Victoria Falls went without food Friday after the planned nationwide protests on the day saw the suspension of a feeding scheme that has been running for the past two weeks.

The Covid-19 local taskforce initiated a feeding scheme early this month targeting to feed about 9 000 vulnerable children in the country’s tourism capital with hot lunches from Monday to Friday.

The number was brought down to 5 000 as the target.

However, the vulnerable children were left hungry Friday after the feeding scheme was forced to cancel due to a lockdown and residents’ travel restrictions

In a statement, the local taskforce said police on patrol Thursday banned the feeding scheme.

“Dear all! We are not conducting feeding programme at the request of ZRP,” the taskforce said.

The feeding takes place every Monday to Friday with the exception of weekends and there are seven feeding points at schools and churches in Mkhosana and Chinotimba high-density locations.

Some children who had missed the message went to feeding points and found no one while other parents responded angrily, castigating the organisers of the botched protests for disrupting the scheme.

“Today (Friday) our children are not going to get free food from the seven feeding points dotted around Victoria Falls because of this day. This is not right and our children will starve,” one parent complained after learning the free lunch would not be available.

Meanwhile, the Covid-19 taskforce has made an appeal for more donations to continue with the programme.

“We need to have a common goal to continue fund-raising efforts to support this. We need constant supplies of food and other materials such as detergents, and roofing sheets to construct foodsheds at feeding points,” said the taskforce in the statement.

Targeted are infants to high school students and is meant to cushion them from hunger as most of their families are struggling to provide daily decent meals.

In the past, Victoria Falls was not on the international food aid radar because of its once flourishing tourism industry. However, the demise of the sector due to the Covid-19 pandemic has left thousands of children exposed to hunger.

This is because the pandemic has rendered more than 90% of tourism workers jobless as the majority of operators, hotels and lodges terminated contracts of workers because of lack of business.

Victoria Falls now needs food assistance like never before, with some adults also turning up to beg for food meant for minors from infants to high school.

The taskforce said after feeding 500 children on the first day on July 14, the number had grown to more than 5 000 per day and a cumulative of 39 934 last Thursday.

Numbers have been steadily rising since the first day with some parents accompanying their children. The minors are given lunch consisting of sadza or rice with cabbage or beans and coleslaw, as well as nutritional porridge for malnourished babies.

Source: 5 000 Vic Falls Children Go Hungry As Feeding Scheme Is Cancelled (01/08/20)

Vic Falls feeding scheme benefits 4000 children

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
A daily community feeding programme initiated by the taskforce on Covid-19 in Victoria Falls last week has attracted close to 4 000 vulnerable children.

A steering team comprising pastors from various churches in Victoria Falls and some individuals from the taskforce are overseeing the programme.

They are targeting more than 8 000 school pupils up to Advanced Level, a figure which the organisers say is informed by findings of their research.

From less than 1 000 children fed on the first day on Wednesday last week, the figure shot up to 3 377 on Tuesday this week and increased to 3 870 on Wednesday.

Seven feeding points have been opened at Apostolic Faith Mission Church, Salvation Army, Christian Centre, Family of God, Seventh Day Adventist, United Methodist Church and Trust in God Pre-School.

The feeding centres are in both Mkhosana and Chinotimba high density suburbs.

Kids are served either isitshwala or rice with soya mince, beans and coleslaw.

Various well-wishers in Victoria Falls donated mealie-meal and other items while part of the rice came from the 30 tonnes of rice given to the local taskforce by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare recently.

The programme comes after the realisation that the Covid-19 induced lockdown had left most families facing hunger. The closure of the tourism industry in the resort town left about 80 percent of workers jobless.

The feeding programme is a relief to some families that had resorted to one meal per day due to lack of food.

Ms Nyarai Mudimba (40) of Chinotimba who was at AFM feeding point with her three children, one aged 13, the other one 10 and another less than a year, said she was happy that her chilren are now guaranteed lunch.

“For the past months we have been having one meal which was in the evening and just porridge in the morning. We had resorted to beg from neighbours and I am happy that now we can have two proper meals a day,” she said.

Another parent Ms Florence Ncube (29) whose two children are being fed said: “We were struggling to have decent meals after my husband lost his job in the tourism sector. This is a relief because it’s been hard especially with minor children who need food regularly. I can now make porridge in the morning knowing we are assured of their lunch and then have our supper. All along we have been foregoing both breakfast and lunch to save for supper and kids were now eating left overs in the morning.”

Feeding is from Monday to Friday between 12.30PM and 2PM.

Source: Vic Falls feeding scheme benefits 4000 children (24/07/20)

Another Vic Falls Lodge Turned Into Covid-19 Centre As Schools Are Cleared Ahead Of Opening

 ANOTHER private lodge in Victoria Falls has been turned into a quarantine centre for returning residents as authorities try to clear schools that were being used as isolation places.

After turning an upmarket Phezulu Lodge into a quarantine centre in May, the Covid-19 Matabeleland North taskforce has converted Encore Budget Lodge formerly known as Adventure Zone into a quarantine centre.

This is despite the tourism industry slowly reopening in the resort town following the relaxation of Covid-19 regulations by government a fortnight ago to allow the sector to cater for domestic clients.

Phezulu Lodge was opened for returnees who opt to pay for their stay there at US$85 per day and Monday had six people under quarantine.

A total of 19 citizens have passed through the centre since it opened and most of them have been discharged.

Encore Budget Lodge opened Saturday with 46 returnees including a Namibian truck driver who is in transit.

Four of them were discharged on Sunday.

The 46 were transferred from Mosi-oa-Tunya High School which was all along the main reception quarantine centre for returnees coming through Victoria Falls from Kazungula border in Zambia and Pandamatenga border in Botswana.

Mabhikwa High School in Lupane has also been cleared and the returnees moved to Inyathi Training Centre to prepare for reopening of schools on 28 July.

Matabeleland North provincial social welfare officer Macnon Chirinzepi said: “Matabeleland North now has two operational quarantine centres namely Encore Budget Lodge and Inyathi Training Centre.

“Mosi-oa-Tunya High School and Mabhikwa High School have ceased to be quarantine centres as they have been closed in preparation for opening of schools. The remaining returnees have been transferred to Encore Budget Lodge and Inyathi Training Centre,” he said.

The province now has three quarantine centres as it continues to receive returnees especially from Botswana and South Africa through Plumtree and Beitbridge borders.

Meanwhile, authorities are tracing contacts of a 63-year-old Hwange woman who died last week and was confirmed to have succumbed from Covid-19. The province now has 25 confirmed cases and 13 recoveries as of Monday.

Source: Another Vic Falls Lodge Turned Into Covid-19 Centre As Schools Are Cleared Ahead Of Opening (14/07/20)

Former football administrators donate to Vic Falls families

Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls
SOME former football administrators in Victoria Falls have donated mealie-meal to more than 100 vulnerable families in the resort town to help cushion them from effects of the Covid-19 lockdown.

About 130 beneficiaries were identified in Chinotimba suburb’s Railways section where there is a huge population of pensioners and elderly residents as well as in Mkhosana suburb’s Mfelandawonye section.

Former Wankie FC player Nyaro Mumba and former Busy Island player Thembani Sibanda, who are now both visually impaired, Jabulani Ndebele (Busy Island), Andrew Mpala and Dumisani Mathe (12 Stars) were among the beneficiaries.

Chinotimba Old People’s Home also benefitted.

United Kingdom-based Winsen Sibanda, the former Intundla player and manager, Whispher Mpala former Victoria Falls United manager, former 12 Stars coach Dumile Mpofu and former 12 Stars player Dumisani Mathe came up with the initiative.

Intundla, Busy Island and Victoria Falls United were among the first teams to play professional lower division football in Victoria Falls.

Each recipient family received a 10kg packet of mealie meal.

In an interview during the door-to-door delivery of the mealie meal, Mpala said the gesture is a way of giving back to the community that groomed them to become footballers.

"I have retired from football and am currently training to be a full time pastor, while Sibanda also left football when he moved to the UK. Sibanda is a well-known football administrator in this area. We sat down as legends and decided to help our community. We are what we are because of this same community that is now struggling because of Covid-19, hence we decided to give back the little that we can,” said Mpala.

Mpofu said they targeted Railways section because that’s where Sibanda grew up.

Victoria Falls Ward 5 councillor Richard Mguni, who was part of the door-to-door distribution, commended the gesture saying it will go a long way in cushioning the vulnerable and restoring hope among residents.

“We reached 130 families in Railways section as each got 10kg of mealie meal. We also donated to Chinotimba Old People’s Home and we are so grateful to the donors,” Mguni said.

One of the beneficiaries Bekezela Sithole (46), an unemployed widow from Chinotimba, said she was grateful for the donation as she had run out of mealie meal with her three minor children, while a National Railways of Zimbabwe pensioner Lovemore Rabson Jambo (65) said he had been struggling to buy basics for his orphaned grandchildren. – @ncubeleon

Source: Former football administrators donate to Vic Falls families (29/06/20)

Vic Falls Residents Invade National Park For Firewood

CONCERNS have been raised over massive cutting down of trees at the Victoria Falls National Park for firewood by residents who have been rendered jobless due to Covid-19 and can no longer afford monthly electricity bills.

Many have resorted to using power for lighting and powering household electrical gadgets only while using gas, firewood, and charcoal for cooking.

However, the high cost of cooking gas has seen a lot of residents opting for firewood and charcoal instead.

Gas is pegged at between US$1,10 and US$2 per kg.

A 5kg packet of charcoal costs US$1.

Residents of new ZB houses in the Bafour Zone are yet to be connected to the electricity grid and use solar systems for lighting.

With winter upon the usually hot resort town, residents have invaded the national park where they are not only cutting dry wood but felling down big trees and threatening the town’s pristine world heritage state.

Anti-poaching teams, including rangers and Victoria Falls Municipal police last Friday and Saturday responded by raiding some of the firewood poachers who, however, fled leaving behind their axes.

Because of fear of wild animals, poachers cut trees closer to the Victoria Falls-Kazungula highway oblivious of the way they are destroying the vegetation that draws tourists for on the road game drives.

Local Ward 11 councillor Edmore Zhou Saturday warned residents found poaching that they will be severely punished.

“We are worried about people cutting down trees on the Bafour Zone along Kazungula road. Zimparks, police and council will soon punish poachers,” said Zhou.

“We have to guard our vegetation as we are the face of Zimbabwe. Heavy penalties are on the way so stay away from destroying our trees.”

However, he courted the ire of residents who said before punishing them, authorities should find ways of addressing widespread hunger in the town.

The residents complained of not benefiting from natural resources around them with only authorities sharing profits among themselves.

They cited a recent incident in which rangers killed and skinned a problem elephant and shared the meat at night without any resident benefiting.

“We are not saying wood poaching is good but we have to address the cause. People are suffering hence something must be down,” a resident said.

Some suggested that Zimparks and the Forestry Commission allow residents to enter the forest once a week to harvest dry wood under supervision.

Source: Vic Falls Residents Invade National Park For Firewood As Electricity Gets Costly (22/06/20)

More: Victoria Falls city fathers, residents face off (23/06/20)

Tourism players struggle to pay workers

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
WITH no revenue coming in, tourism operators in Victoria Falls are taking further drastic measures to stay afloat including terminating contracts for remaining workers.

There has been a series of layoffs and cuts to salaries, including migration from paying workers in foreign currency to the local currency, as the sector weighs options to survive.

Both small and established players have continued to reduce workforce in the wake of the global Covid-19 pandemic, whose cumulative cases have reached 8 142 820 and killed 439 768 globally as of yesterday, resulting in indefinite closure of the tourism industry. Some players had sent workers on indefinite leave with skeletal staff such as front desk, security and maintenance remaining on site to handle cancellations, postponements and maintenance work.

While company executives were not keen to be interviewed, investigations by Business Chronicle showed that the companies are struggling to sustain staff salaries with no revenues coming in. Some companies including hotels and tour operators have reportedly terminated contracts of around to 200 workers each. Sector players are appealing to Government to urgently intervene by opening up domestic tourism or quickly avail the promised packages to save jobs and companies from collapse.

Internal sources from various companies confirmed that more workers had been laid off since the start of the month as employers struggle to keep a huge workforce without revenue inflows. In an interview, a tourism trade unionist Mr Edward Dzapasi said: “People are now suffering as some have been without salary for two months. Even those who remained at work many of them are no longer getting full salary. We appeal to Government to intervene as a matter of urgency and protect workers. They should open domestic tourism but at the same time adjust prices and rates so that people can afford.”

He said the Covid-19 situation should be a wake-up call for the industry to come up with measures like strengthening labour laws or setting up a fund whose aim will be to cater for workers during times of distress.

Government is currently working on a strategic post-Covid-19 tourism recovery plan to reopen the industry for domestic clients as a way of ensuring that the sector gets some revenue. Last month Government pledged a bank guarantee facility worth ZWL$500 million to assist the tourism sector to access working capital loans from banks so as to boost the industry post Covid-19.

The stimulus package also includes a Tourism Revolving Fund with an initial injection of a seed capital of ZWL$20 million, waiver of Value Added Tax on domestic tourism, deferment of liquidation of foreign currency paid by international clients, support for Zimbabwe Tourism.

Authority and payment of money owed to tourism operators by various Government institutions. The tourism industry welcomed the packages as a relief.

The local tourism industry employs more than 40 000 workers and contributes 1,4 percent to national employment, according to the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ).

HAZ Victoria Falls chapter chairman Mr Anald Musonza said the pandemic has created huge challenges for business especially in Victoria Falls where tourism is the mainstay.

“This has caused a lot of distress for companies and employees. Our hope is on Government’s intention to open domestic tourism to help revive our industry and hopefully revenues start trickling in and help retain some workers. The cashflow has run out and we hope the Government tax break and all packages will be quickly accessed to remain viable,” he said.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that globally over 25 million jobs will be lost due to the coronavirus, with 2020 projected to be a very difficult year for the tourism business.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) acting chief executive, Mr Givemore Chidzidzi has said saving jobs along the tourism value chain is at the heart of the tourism recovery plan.

Source: Tourism players struggle to pay workers (17/06/20)

Food-for-work initiative keeps Vic Falls clean

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
WELL-WISHERS in Victoria Falls have come up with a food-for-work initiative where people affected by Covid-19 volunteer to clean around the town before getting a food hamper which includes a 10-kilogramme pack of mealie-meal.

More than 200 people have benefited so far from the initiative which started on Friday. The initiative is meant to complement Government’s various safety net initiatives and the national clean-up exercise launched by President Mnangagwa more than a year ago.

With the national clean-up exercise on hold because of the Covid-19-induced lockdown, some places in Victoria Falls have accumulated litter.

The Victoria Falls food-for-work initiative seeks to tidy the town in preparation for reopening of tourism to both domestic and international travellers. Last week some of the volunteers cleaned around the Central Business District and streets leading to Chinotimba and Mkhosana suburbs. Programme co-ordinator Mr Kent Davis said the initiative is aimed at encouraging people to take care of their environment regardless of the economic situation.

“This is a combination of two things. The taskforce is trying to assist after Covid-19 made people economically vulnerable due to mass unemployment. While we don’t have enough resources, we thought it was a good idea to combine food distribution with some work hence we partnered council to invite volunteers,” said Mr Davis.

He said more than 200 people have taken part in the two days the exercise has been done. Mr Davis said this would be done weekly.

“We want to make sure people have food but at the same time cleaning our town in preparation for that time when tourists will start coming. We feel everyone has been left vulnerable hence we are not screening as long as one has registered as a volunteer. We are keeping records so that people don’t volunteer twice at least for now,” he added.

He said social distancing is being observed during the cleaning exercises. More than three quarters of workers in Victoria Falls have been unemployed for the past three months after the implementation of the lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus. One of the volunteers, Ms Eunice Ncube from Chinotimba who is a curio vendor said she was grateful to be part of a team that is working to ensure that the resort town is cleaned. @ncubeleon

Source: Food-for-work initiative keeps Vic Falls clean (14/06/20) 

An Important Message from the Jafuta Foundation, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

An Important Message from the Jafuta Foundation, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (www.jafutafoundation.org/, www.facebook.com/JafutaFoundation/):

As a result of Covid-19, the entire economy of Victoria Falls has collapsed overnight. The 35,000 inhabitants of this tourist destination town have regularly faced significant challenges and have always done so with stoicism, dignity and a degree of fatalism. This is the first time it has faced starvation as a result of factors beyond it's control.

With virtually the entire town now unemployed, we estimate that from the end of April, most will be unable to feed themselves. We have formed a task force to try and address not only the virus, but the greater threat of famine. We have tried to alert all the major food agencies across the world, but their attention is understandably focused elsewhere for now.

Zimbabweans are resourceful and dynamic (we've had to be). The community has set up a Task Force to deal with the dual challenges of the virus (and raise funds for badly needed medical supplies via a go fund me page) – and this imminent secondary wave of catastrophe. The Famine task force has organised commercial kitchens, warehousing, transport, logistics and an army of volunteers. To date we have only secured 60 tonnes of rice and 35 tonnes of maize meal - which will feed no more than 1 200 people for one month. We are busy with setting up seedling nurseries, water access programs, and enabling rural communities surrounding us to plant vegetables. This program, whilst urgently needed, will only show any benefits in 2 – 3 months time at the earliest.

We urgently appeal for donations to allow us to procure emergency food supplies - £50 feeds a family of four for one month. We are playing for time and eventually we hope established food agencies will come in and relieve our needs - but it is nowhere in sight for now, and we are on our own.

Our task force and fundraising effort is supported by ALL the major operators and stakeholders in the town . All funds received will go to a registered foundation – the Jafuta Foundation (https://www.jafutafoundation.org) – a registered 501(c)3 in America and a registered foundation and operating in the Victoria Falls. 100% of any donations will go directly into buying food and there are no administration, distribution costs or hidden costs.

For internet donations, please go to https://www.jafutafoundation.org/donate or contact gcvj@mweb.co.za for USA bank details for a direct deposit.

On behalf of our beleaguered community, our heartfelt gratitude for any help that you may be able to give.

Appeal website: Victoria Falls Famine Appeal

Winter warmer for Vic Falls orphans, elderly

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter

THE Hindoo community in Harare and the Rotary Club of Victoria Falls have separately donated blankets and gloves to an old people’s home and two orphanages in the resort town to cushion them during winter.

The Hindoo community which incorporates the Muslim group, with more than 6 000 members in the country, also donated blankets to Victoria Falls isolation centre at Zimbabwe Aids Project Clinic.

Chinotimba Old People’s Home got 24 blankets while Rose of Charity and Mummy’s Angels orphanages received 10 each, with the isolation centre getting 16.

Chinotimba Old People’s Home now has 14 elderly persons after one died last week after a long illness.

Victoria Falls businessman Mr Jay Gopal and his wife Mrs Shakuntala Gopal handed over the blankets on behalf of the Hindoo Community in Harare. The donation came after a realisation of the need for blankets by the old people’s home and orphanages during winter.

Mrs Gopal said the Hindoo community will always help the needy.

“It is the Harare Hindoo society that’s giving the donation as they have always been donating to charity. After donating a fridge to the isolation centre recently, they inquired if there was anything needed and we indicated there is need for blankets for winter for the old people’s home and orphanages,” said Mrs Gopal.

Welcoming the donation on behalf of the isolation centre, Mr Martin Mhlanga encouraged other well-wishers to donate to the needy.

Rose of Charity founder Mrs Simangele Moyo said the orphanage is facing challenges sourcing food, medication and blankets.

“These blankets will go a long way in helping keep kids warm. Covid-19 has turned our situation into a desperate one as well-wishers are no longer able to help. We are no longer getting food and medication donations the way we used to because of the prevailing situation,” she said.

Rose of Charity takes care of 79 orphans, 23 of them housed at the orphanage with the rest being taken care of by the home while living in the community.

Speaking on behalf of the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe which coordinates corporate social responsibility by the tourism industry in Victoria Falls, Ms Yvonne Jandles said the industry was always ready to donate to charity despite the challenges brought about by Covid-19.

“The home is not closed despite the Covid-19 lockdown. It’s unfortunate a lot of things were put on hold but anyone who wants to donate should approach the home as they need winter items including some mattresses,” she said.

Tourism executive Mrs Barbara Murasiranwa handed over knitted knee blankets and gloves to Chinotimba Old People’s Home on behalf of Victoria Falls Rotary Club. She said the Rotary Club will donate to the orphanages.-@ncubeleon

Source: Winter warmer for Vic Falls orphans, elderly (10/06/20)

HAZ pledges to bankroll Victoria Falls clinic, solar projects

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter

THE Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) is mobilising resources to construct a community clinic and install a solar system at Chinotimba Old People’s Home in Victoria Falls.

The home accommodates 14 elderly men and women, with the eldest being 107 years old. It is run by the Chinotimba Association for the Destitute and Aged (Chada) under the auspices of both the Victoria Falls Municipality and the Department of Social Welfare.

HAZ adopted the home as part of the hospitality industry’s corporate social responsibility and operators take turns to donate foodstuffs, clothes, medication and other necessities. Management at the old people’s home had complained about lack of medicines for the elderly who suffer from different ailments.

Most of the drugs are bought from Livingstone in Zambia and require foreign currency.

HAZ secured a developer to refurbish one of the disused buildings and convert it into a clinic. Provision of medical equipment had also been secured before the country was plunged into the Covid-19 induced lockdown.

HAZ coordinator Ms Yvonne Jandles said US$15 000 is needed to renovate the building and turn it into a clinic, which will not only serve the old people’s home but all vulnerable groups from the resort town.

“We have adopted the Old People’s Home as part of our social responsibility programme and as HAZ we assist with food donations. We get monthly grocery vouchers from Pick n Pay and also industry players contribute. 

“We have also opened funeral policies for the elderly housed here while we also take turns to fill gas for cooking. We work in close liaison with Victoria Falls Municipality,” said Ms Jandles.

She said currently the Old People’s Hone has enough food stocks despite the lockdown caused by Covid-19, which has incapacitated industry.

“We can’t speak of the future because we don’t know when this pandemic will end but until now we have continued helping. They have been sourcing drugs from Zambia but now there is a challenge because the border is closed.

“We were trying to put a clinic here so that they access health services without hustles but with the current situation that project has been put on hold. We were looking at US$15 000 to renovate the building according to the quotations we got. We have a donor for the medical equipment and another for furnishing the facility and what we need now will be to reengage the donors after the pandemic,” said Ms Jandles.

She said the municipality has given greenlight for the project.

“We could have started the project but we needed clarification from the municipality about the two companies that were to do renovation. We got permission to go ahead but unfortunately we had Covid-19 outbreak, which put everything on hold.

“Once in place, the clinic will not be limited to the Old People’s Home but will service scores of the elderly people in community. We are also looking at having a solar project for the home so they don’t struggle with electricity,” added Ms Jandles.

She could not give a budget for the solar project saying assessment was being done.

-@ncubeleon

Source: HAZ pledges to bankroll Victoria Falls clinic, solar projects (09/06/20)

Victoria Falls Old people’s home falls on hard times

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter

CHINOTIMBA Old People’s Home in Victoria Falls is now failing to provide decent meals for 15 elderly people housed at the facility.

Sometimes the home skips a meal while relish is now limited to soya chunks and vegetables.

The old people’s home used to get donations from individuals, hotels, tour operators, tourists, churches and schools who are now not helping as they have been incapacitated by Covid-19 restrictions.

Some doctors from Victoria Falls Hospital who used to take turns to visit the home during weekends have also stopped because of commitments in the fight against Covid-19.

A Chronicle news crew visited the home and spoke to members of the board who said the elderly lack access to medication and are facing food shortages.

“We no longer have any company coming to donate or spend time because of the lockdown caused by Covid-19. It’s now tough for us and we are just surviving by grace. Our major challenge is on medication and food, especially relish,” said Mr James Nyoni, a board member.

“We need gloves, medication including pain killers and adult diapers because some are bed-ridden. These are elderly people who are actually sick and we should be having pain killers at any given time.

Five of them are on mental health treatment and we have to buy pills and injections every month which needs foreign currency that we don’t have. On average each injection or tablet is US$10 per month per person.”

He said before the lockdown they used to get some forex from tour operators, hotels and tourists who visited the home and would use the money to buy medication in Zambia where it’s cheaper than locally.

Mr Nyoni commended TM Pick n Pay supermarket which has maintained a RTGS$2 000 monthly grocery voucher donation which they use to buy mealie-meal.

He said the home desperately needs assistance.

“As much as we observe lockdown rules, we desperately appeal for donations. If we don’t get help some might die of hunger. We have no stocks anymore as the lockdown closed out people who used to help us hence, we are just managing the little we have to survive. Each time we are not sure if we would manage to serve them the next meal,” said Mr Nyoni.

The home has a vegetable garden but baboons destroy the crops.

They are also struggling to refill a gas tank which they use for cooking.

Source:  Victoria Falls Old people’s home falls on hard times (30/05/20)

Health care seekers complain over poor service at Victoria Falls hospital

Victoria Falls: People seeking primary health care at Victoria Falls Hospital have expressed concern at the slow service delivery at the facility owing to limited hours they are attended to because of the Covid-19 induced lockdown.

The hospital acts as a referral for areas in the whole of Hwange West constituency covering the resort town and villages around Monde, Jambezi, Chisuma, Sidobe, Ndlovu, Jambezi, Woodlands and Matetsi.

The hospital used to open its gates to the public at 7.30am but now health seekers are only allowed to enter around 9am.

NewZimbabwe.com observed during the course of the week that each morning was characterised by long queues of about 30 to 40 people waiting to be allowed into the hospital premises for various services.

Some are pregnant women, with some being new mothers seeking healthcare for their newly born babies while others are seeking treatment for various ailments.

Only those visiting the sick were being allowed in at 7am.

Those who spoke to this publication said they were concerned over how attention was being given to Covid-19 activities at the expense of other health related needs.

“I have a new baby and have to take her for seven days check-up but have been in the queue since 7am.

“Now it’s almost 9am and they have not started attending to us. Last time when I was here for three days check up again, we spent 30 minutes just being cleared at the gate before queuing for the actual service inside,” said Norah Mudenda of Mkhosana.

Shamiso Tembo, a pregnant young woman from Jambezi said, “It’s difficult for us who are expecting. We are being kept in the queue for more than an hour and that’s tiresome.

“It would have been better if we were queuing inside the hospital not just to be checked for temperature and sanitised for Covid-19.

“At this stage, I can’t continue going to Jambezi Clinic because I am almost due and I have to be checked at the hospital.”

Even those visiting for daily sputum take for TB screening are affected.

With Hwange having no district hospital, Victoria Falls Hospital is the sole referral for Chisuma, Ndlovu and Jambezi clinics which are the only ones in the constituency.

Victoria Falls, Hwange Colliery and St Patricks’ Hospital are the three major health facilities in the district.

5 Miles Hospital in Hwange which was supposed to be a district hospital was condemned two years ago before it could be officially used because of the substandard construction work by the contractors.

It had taken more than 10 years to construct and now efforts are being made to renovate the cracked walls and floors which made health officials condemn it.

The Covid-19 taskforce identified the idle 5 Miles Hospital as an isolation centre.

Hwange District Medical Officer, Fungai Musinami recently said plans were underway to hunt for partners towards upgrading of Victoria Falls Hospital into a district hospital.

Source: Health care seekers complain over poor service at Victoria Falls hospital (13/06/20)