Zimele Expands to Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Orphan Feeding

 In May 2008, we launched Zimele Zimbabwe to address the worsening economic crisis. Unfortunately the situation has not improved since then with the crisis of hitting the country and its people at every level: political, economic, food, and health.

With an estimated 90% unemployment rate and hyper-inflation of over 200 million percent inflation, people are unable to afford the to pay for the daily necessities. Basic public services are breaking down as most teachers, nurses, garbage collectors and janitors have stopped working because their salaries no longer cover the cost of transport to work.

The food situation has been excerbated by the poor winter harvest leaving an estimated five million people with a reliable source of food. There are widespread reports of people who are eating only every two to three days. And the situation is only expected to get worse. According to Oxfam, by January at least half the population are going to be without enough food to eat.

Like a straw that breaks the camel’s back, health organizations are now concerned about the potential onset of a cholera empidemic. Five separate outbreaks have resulted in thousands of cases of cholera and at least 400 deaths since August. Doctors Without Borders has warned that another 1.4 million people are at risk.

Zimele launched an orphan care program to provide daily meals and education to over 200 primary and secondary school orphans in Kwekwe and Mufakose. For many of these children, it is their only source of food and care. Zimele has also launched self help groups in Kwekwe and Mufakose, who are launching income generating craft products and candle making programs.

As the situation worsens at an alarming rate, Zimele is actively fundraising to expand the reach of our programs.