HARARE - Early this week, we reported on the confusion and frustration being caused by government’s insistence that all donations to Tokwe-Mukorsi and Tsholotsho flood victims be channelled through State structures.
While we appreciate the need for the State to monitor all the charity initiatives being undertaken to benefit the flood victims, we urge them do it in a manner that doesn’t frustrate the various well-meaning artistes and organisations who are eager to help.
A case in point is the Soap and Shirt Donation Winter Festival held in June which featured several artistes such as Leonard Zhakata, Charles and Olivia Charamba, Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave, BaShupi, Suluman Chimbetu and Cynthia Mare.
The charity initiative was jointly organised by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights), the Women’s Trust (TWT), Batanai HIV, Aids Organisation (Bhaso) and Crisis In Zimbabwe Coalition and reportedly raised over five tonnes of clothing and other essential items like soap and sanitary pads.
We believe the organisers of the Soap and Shirt Donation Winter Festival are not being unreasonable by asking the authorities to allow them to directly donate to the Tokwe-Mukorsi and Tsholotsho floods victims.
It is difficult to understand why the government insists on receiving donations on behalf of the suffering Tokwe-Mukorsi and Tsholotsho flood victims.
If it is indeed government’s aim to ensure that all the donations are done in a transparent manner, then they can easily achieve this by sending their own people to monitor handover ceremonies of gifts to the flood victims.
Sadly, the Soap and Shirt Donation Winter Festival is not the only charity initiative meant to benefit Tokwe Mukorsi flood victims that has been frustrated by government’s high-handed policy. On May 9, a Green Concert featuring South African artiste Zahara raised over $10 500 which was only donated to the inhabitants of Chingwizi Camp more than a month after the handover due to government’s beauracracy.
The Green Concert organisers led by Green Ambassador Dereck Mpofu tried in vain to get permission to donate directly to the intended beneficiaries but were reportedly told that they had to hand over their donation to Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment deputy minister, retired major Mathias Tongofa who would then take the donation to the flood victims at Chingwizi Transit Camp.
It is high time government realised that there is no joy in donating through a third party. Government must give the various donors the satisfaction of directly handing over whatever help they have to the intended beneficiaries.Stop frustrating well-meaning initiatives