News from Chidamoyo, October, 2007

The BBC television programme Our World: Zimbabwe's Slow Death shows that Zimbabwe is on the point of collapse. Thousands of people are dying every week from disease and malnutrition. BBC News is not allowed to report from Zimbabwe, but Sue Lloyd-Roberts has been into the country, undercover, to witness a country in despair.

We have regular communication with the Chidamoyo Christian Hospital through Sr Kathy McCarty, the matron. In August she wrote, "We have already started to use the money you sent. We are providing school fees for an additional 45 girls starting next term in September and helping many people with exam fees that would not have been able to write their O and A levels because there is just no money these days. Life is so difficult! We have tried to buy beans and maize to help our orphans and we are adding people to our orphan programme because of your donations.
The government is continuing with their ruinous economic policies despite the negative impact they are having on the country as a whole. Many businesses have lost billions of dollars and workers are being laid off as businesses are not even covering their costs. There is no meat for the majority of the population as 90 percent of butcheries in the country have closed down. Power and water cuts have become part of a daily life of misery in Zimbabwe."

The refurbishment of the medical laboratory which was paid for by the Chidamoyo Trust with money raised by Reading Roadrunners is now complete. Laboratory equipment bought in America has been installed and is up and running. On 16th September, Kathy wrote,"Thanks for all you do. The machines are on battery backup since this past week we have had no ZESA (mains electricity) for 15+ hours each day. It usually comes on during the middle of the night. The Lab Technician from the US came and taught us how to use the machines. Thanks you so much.
We went to the store today and it was even worse than before--literally toilet paper, pork sausages, bacon and a few vegetables and candy bars. People line up for bread before it is even baked!"

The Chidamoyo Trust has just sent more money to Chidamoyo and on the 27th of September, Kathy wrote, �"he person we sent to learn about the laboratory machines was so impressed by the company. We are struggling with no electricity--it just came on after 52 hours off! We appreciate all the little things in life.! Thanks for the money"

At the end of this month we are expecting a visit from Mr Major Mereke from Chidamoyo. Mr Mereke, whose first name is Major and who has nothing to do with the Zimbabwe army, is the administrator of the Chidamoyo Christian Hospital. He was born in the Chidamoyo district, where he has spent most of his life. He is also a pastor of the Church of Christ the King and an experienced youth worker. He has a wife and young children. His wife works in the laboratory at the hospital. He will be able to give us up-to-date feedback about what is happening in Chidamoyo and he will have a DVD showing the refurbished laboratory with all its new equipment.