Magaya donates $1m goods to cholera crisis

About 2 000 church members from Budiriro and Glen View areas were each given a package containing bottles of toilet cleaners, hand sanitisers, water purification tablets and 100 latex gloves.

During the handover, he made an emotional plea urging the church members who had received the initial donation to pass on the supplies to affected community members in real need as this promoted social cohesion.

Prophet Magaya said he sold two of his cars in South Africa to raise part of the money donated towards the cholera response.

“As a church we also raised funds through our branches in Botswana, Swaziland, China, Australia, United Kingdom, Zambia and South Africa just to name a few. I also sold two of my cars in South Africa so that I could put the money towards the cholera response.

“Two other haulage trucks are on the way from South Africa bringing more sanitisers, latex gloves, toilet cleaners and water purification tablets. We had to buy in South Africa because we could not get adequate supplies here in Zimbabwe as our order was quite big.

“As I speak, I am left with nothing but as a church, we shall help the government to fight cholera until there are no more reported cases,” he said.

He added that the cholera outbreak is not only a government headache, pointing out the role churches should play in educating people on proper waste management, sanitation and hygiene especially those in the food handling businesses.

He also said churches, as an important stakeholder should immediately respond towards such public health challenges that affect Zimbabweans.

“The cholera problem should not just be left for government alone. Some people who come to pray in our church come from communities badly affected by cholera. As such, it is also our duty to educate people and ensure that we support government policies and also respond in times of crisis.

“That is why as PHD Ministries, we also do several clean ups in Harare’s Central Business District during the course of the year. It is our role as a church to help keep a clean environment and help minimise disease,” he added.

The cholera outbreak was first reported on September 6, in the Glen View and Budiriro areas.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care declared the outbreak a state of emergency and also launched an appeal for $64,1 million to contain the cholera outbreak, which has so far claimed 33