Jane Mlambo| Barely two months after the dreadful Cyclone Idai disaster ravaged Manicaland province, a Germany energy company Little Sun and its local partner Alight Zimbabwe Trust an Alumni association to Plan Zimbabwe have handed over USD$25 000 worthy solar powered lights to Red Cross Zimbabwe for onward distribution to affected communities.
Cyclone idai left a trail of destruction in Chimanimani and Chipinge districts with thousands of residents left homeless forcing the government to relocate most of the victims to safer areas.
In an interview with ZimEye, Alight Zimbabwe Trust (Plan Alumni) Programs and Resources Mobilisation manager Edwin Sithole said ,”the aftermath of the disaster is one critical area where many people ignore as many organisations believe in distributing handouts during the disaster period with the aftermath often ignored.”
Sithole added that they were moved to chii in with assistance after noting the terrible situation in which Cyclone Idai victims have been going through since the disaster.
“We sought assistance from our partner, Little Sun Germany who then donated Solar lamps to us to help the victims of disaster to access clean source of energy,” he added.
“When a disaster strikes, women and children especially girls are victims of darkness and as we are moving forward with the Plan International theme that says #Getting GirlsEqual# we found it very necessary to give Lights to the affected communities but with much emphasis on women and girls,” added Sithole.
Mason Hoffein Little sun Germany Business development Manager for Africa said they pushed to help after noticing how the disaster has caused untold damage to the communities in Chipinge and Chimanimani.
“As a company it is one of our key responsibilities to come to the side of those communities in need of assistance and Chimanimani and Chipinge became our center of attraction.
“We will continue to help Zimbabwe with solar powered energy as we believe that Natural Velux Lights are for Learning, Earning and Learning.
“We hope and trust that this donation will go a long way to helping vulnerable communities especially girls and women in those areas.
Redcross Finance Director Mr Morris Machawira thanked Little sun Germany for remembering the victims of the Cyclone idai disaster.
Light is important in a disaster situation yet more often our target is mostly food, forgetting that light is also a basic necessity, we are thankful and we believe this help will go a long way to helping people in Chiping and Chimanimani to access clean source of energy , Natural Velux lights.”