South African music stars, promoters and Zimbabwean artistes have come together to pledge their support for victims of tropical Cyclone Idai that hit Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, last month.
The artistes have committed to collecting non-perishable food, clothes, and water from the public to assist the victims in the three countries. Working closely with the department of arts & culture, the artistes have already begun collecting clothes and food with some of the bundles set to leave the country yesterday.
The artists have also organised a concert to raise funds for victims of Cyclone Idai flooding.
The show will take place in Johannesburg, at a venue that will be announced closer to the time.
The artistes involved include Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Buffalo from Zimbabwe, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Thandeka PJ Powers, Bo Mbindwane, Arthur Mafokate, AJ Mafokate, Buselaphi Gxowa, Linah Khama, Ihashe Elimhlophe, Suthukazi Arosi, Sam Mhangwani, Leonard Sithole and Phumi Maduna, among others.
South Africa’s Arts and Culture minister Nathi Mthethwa said: “The three weeks that have preceded this day came a week after the world came to fully grasp the impact of the natural disaster that is Cyclone Idai on Southern Africa.
“It is while rescue teams tallied the numbers of fatalities, and images of the incredible upheaval in the lives of the survivors, that I realised that, while it is impossible for us to stop natural disasters, collectively we hold the power to present ourselves as a united front in support of those who survive these (disasters).”
Humanitarian Rejoice Nxumalo said the idea started with her posting on Facebook about the incident and how they could help. She said ordinary South Africans started donating food, clothing, water, water purifiers, medical supplies and utensils which were taken to Mozambique. Nxumalo said the biggest challenge was that of transport.
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“We have been to Mozambique and saw it ourselves how people are affected. People are in need of food and clothes because they lost everything. We appeal to people in the transport industry to assist us.”
Mthethwa said they were working on an aid tour with artistes and the media, where those involved in this project would lend a hand on the ground by rolling up their sleeves to help distribute aid and rebuild communities.
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