Cyclone Idai – Rescue Relief

Cyclone Idai could be the Southern Hemisphere's deadliest storm. This is the latest in a series of terrible events for our beautiful country Zimbabwe. First late rains meant crops failed, people went hungry across the country. Then the Zimbabwean government cracked down in a deadly and brutal reaction to a peaceful protest. Now official estimates say 400,000 people have been displaced, but rumours are that it could be much, much worse. Villages have been washed away, and the waters themselves are deadly in parts, as they are filled with crocodiles. Please help - even the smallest donation could make the world of difference thousands of miles away.

WHERE WILL THE MONEY GO?

To a trust fund at a law firm Webb, Low and Barry called the "Cyclone Idai Relief Fund". The trust account reference number is 05/C115/001.

Tapiwa Chizana the senior partner of Deloitte in Bulawayo has confirmed that Deloitte will audit the trust fund. Donors will receive a copy of the accounts prepared and audited by Deloitte.

The purpose of the fund is to raise money for EMERGENCY RELIEF including FOOD, MEDICATION and FUEL.

They are liaising with the church groups in Harare and Zenzele Ndebele in Bulawayo who has already done superb work in raising support. Donations of food, medication and blankets etc can be dropped off with Myriam Honiball at Bulawayo Help Network 130a Jason Moyo Avenue Bulawayo.

Mbokodo Butchery and Colbro transport have provided two vehicles (one a refrigerated truck and the other a 30 tonne rig) to transport whatever is donated in Bulawayo to Chimanimani.

However the immediate problem is that all the roads leading into Chimanimani are blocked so we cannot get supplies anywhere closer than approximately 80kms from Chimanimani. Helicopters have been prevented from flying along the roads to assess the damage. It is hoped that an assessment might be done today but it is still raining in Chimanimani.

With this in mind a group of Mountain Bikers and Motorbike trail riders have volunteered to travel down from Bulawayo and Harare to ride along the road with cameras to help assess the damage. Nothing can get through to Chimanimani until these roads have been opened up. They will leave this afternoon if no other means to assess the roads can be used.

We understand that the army has already started working on the roads but the task is massive with major landslides and many bridges washed away.

Bearing this in mind Jim Goddard of JR Goddard has generously offered to deploy two Cat 966H front end loaders together with a Cat 140K grader to move from the last bit of accessible road up the highest priority road clearing and repairing as they go. If necessary JR Goddard would then deploy a team of Cat 336D excavator & 2 x Cat 730C dump trucks to follow filling & repairing as necessary. They will design & construct as they go. The first team would use up to sixty litres of diesel fuel per hour. The second team a similar quantity. The cost per first team is USD205 per hour & the cost per second team is USD 185 per hour. We have no idea how many hours will be required but this is the first priority for funding. We accordingly need to raise several thousands dollars just for this purpose.

So the needs are great and URGENT. Please respond and share this far and wide.

My secretary Donella Johnson can field questions - her e mail address is [email protected] . My whatsapp number is +263772232397 . - David Coltart

IF YOU DONATE TO THE FUND PLEASE SEND AN E MAIL TO MY SECRETARY GIVING DETAILS OF THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE DONATED, THE DATE, YOUR E MAIL AND YOUR NAME SO THAT WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT AND SEND YOU A COPY OF THE AUDITED ACCOUNT IN DUE COURSE.