LISIKILI – Good Samaritans continued to offer assistance to victims of the fire that recently destroyed over 40 huts at Saili village in the Lisikiliti area about 20 km east of Katima Mulilo.
The latest to join in the philanthropic activities is EDCON through one of its subsidiaries – JetMart.
The store donated gift vouchers worth N$23 000 to 23 households that were affected by the fire.
Each victim from the household can get free items worth N$1 000 from JetMart at Katima Mulilo.
Handing over the vouchers to the fire victims, Zambezi Regional Governor, Lawrence Sampofu, who was glad that no life was lost during the disaster urged the villagers to work together and rebuild their homes.
“This is a big disaster. We’re grateful that no life was lost. However we should not be pointing fingers at one another. This was a natural disaster. Let’s unite and help each other when we’re rebuilding our houses,” he implored villagers.
Sampofu further pledged to source more donations to help ease the impact. “I will continue to source donations from elsewhere so that at least we can try to help out,” he said.
Manager of JetMart in Katima Mulilo, Patrick Sezuni, said JetMart was disheartened by the disaster and therefore as one of the oldest businesses in Zambezi felt it necessary to offer assistance through its social responsibility programme.
“When we saw the disaster on television, we were very touched and immediately wrote to our head office to see how we can help. We have operated in Zambezi for over ten years and people have always supported us therefore we saw it fit to offer vouchers worth N$23 000 to affected households,” stated Sezuni.
An induna in the area who was gratified by the donation urged beneficiaries to use the vouchers to buy useful items.
He further appealed to the forestry department in the region to find mechanisms for curtailing wildfires such as conducting constant patrols.
As part of its emergency response, the Zambezi Regional Council provided assistance last week in the form of tents, blankets and food.
Those affected were also provided with national documents such as passports and IDs.
It was also discovered that more than 30 learners were adversely affected after losing their uniforms and books.
Meanwhile, the Zambezi Youth Foundation, an organisation founded by youths in the region to do philanthropic work has collected over nine consignments of old clothes and shoes from individuals to be delivered to those affected by next week.
According to its coordinator, Miyolisa Matomola, it sourced clothing items from good Samaritans all over the country to help affected people rebuild their lives.
“We are concerned about the welfare of our people especially in the Zambezi Region. Apart from the clothing, we have received a minimum amount of N$300 which will be used to buy food for those affected,” revealed Matomola.
Fires in the area are said to be common this time of the year and a similar disaster occurred in 2001 when about nine homesteads were destroyed.