People in Zimbabwe are facing a hunger crisis amid the worst drought in several decades, and churches in the U.S. are stepping up to help. 

The Nyadire Connection, a faith-based nonprofit founded by individuals from a network of United Methodist churches in Pittsburgh, has been in partnership with the United Methodist Nyadire Mission community for 18 years. Hearing of the calamities befalling their friends, The Nyadire Connection began working to raise money to provide food support.

A team from The Nyadire Connection arrived in Zimbabwe in mid-June to distribute supplies. They provided households with a monthly gift of 44 pounds of mealie meal (cornmeal), a gallon of cooking oil and nine pounds each of sugar, flour and rice.

“Our relationship with the Nyadire community dates back to 2006 when we started implementing various projects,” said Mary Beth Zollars, who led the team of 10 volunteers from Pittsburgh. She is the Nyadire Home of Hope Sister Rut Scholarship program leader.

She said the nonprofit began providing assistance to the Nyadire community in April on a smaller scale. The group then contacted partners and started a fundraising campaign with a target to raise $100,000 to feed the community through December.

“We got an overwhelming response and raised $110,000. My church alone, Christ United Methodist (of Bethel Park), raised $35,000. Some were very small gifts, but all gifts put together transform lives.”

The funds raised will support nearly 400 families through the end of this year, said Ralph Duckworth, chairman of The Nyadire Connection, in an email update about the response.

Zollars said her visit made it clear that more help will be needed.

“I saw scorched fields and hungry people,” she said. “I have heard testimonies and received messages of the desperate situations. Funds permitting, we hope to help families up to next harvest time.”

Volunteer Pamela Harden said the distribution was hectic but satisfying. “I felt like I was doing something constructive to help people. Everyone needs food to eat.”

Emmanuel Chiimba heads the Nyadire Mission social welfare committee, which distributed the food.

“After the effects of El Niño-induced drought, which destroyed all the crops, hunger was imminent,” he said. “We had to send an appeal to our old, all-weather friends, TNC.

“We have 18 years of sound relationship with them, implementing many different projects. One is food relief. During the COVID-19 outbreak in 2021 and part of 2022, we also received food relief.”

He said 310 families of workers of United Methodist Nyadire Mission and from six satellite clinics and schools are benefiting from this initiative, noting that $13,200 per month is being spent toward food purchases.

“Each family contributes $1 a month toward other expenses like provision of security,” he said. “The program has been very helpful and is extending to our outreach program of non-UMC schools.”

Marie Hunt serves as the TNC Nyadire Mission Home of Hope outreach coordinator.

“We have 366 orphans within the 22 schools of Nyadire catchment areas whom we are assisting with fees, backpacks and school supplies,” she said. “Because of the effects of El Niño-induced drought, we have knocked at their kitchen doors, too.

“We are distributing a 10-kilogram (22-pound) bag of mealie meal to benefit each of the children. Their guardians will come to receive the mealie meal,” she said. “It brings great joy to know that these children are growing and progressing with their education year after year.”

Leticia Bandira, Nyadire Central Primary School health teacher, said before the food relief, the school experienced high rates of absenteeism and poor performances due to the lack of a balanced diet. She said hunger was affecting students and teachers.

“Our monthly salaries could not buy enough food for the whole month. With this program, we have been helped a lot, and it keeps us motivated. Learners and teachers are now actively participating in class.”

Rosemary Nyarugwe, Nyadire Teachers College principal, said the program has assisted its staff and student teachers with food items.

“Without food on the table, concentration at the workplace is difficult. One may be forced to go and look for food for the family, leaving students alone.

“So far, with these provisions, we are assured of presence of members at the workplace all the time, and student teachers on attachment are having their lessons without disturbance.”

Mupunga Wonai, a Nyadire Teachers College lecturer, appreciated the support.

“Life was tough due to economic hardships and El Niño-induced drought. Our lives have been made easier through this program.”

Brenda Mawire, a student teacher from Nyadire Teachers College, is an intern at Nyadire Central Primary School. “This program helps us to save for the tuition fee. I have a health condition that needs constant medication, and it was a heavy toll on me to balance the four (fees, food, medication and transportation cost).

“Through this support, a lot has been subsidized, and we can go to work on a full stomach.”

Munyaradzi Nyamajiwa, a college worker, said the help will go a long way.

“I have four children, and it was not easy to feed my family,” Nyamajiwa said.

A global UNICEF report estimated that 181 million children worldwide under 5 years of age — one in four children — are experiencing severe child food poverty, making them up to 50% more likely to experience wasting, a life-threatening form of malnutrition. Among these, 580,000 are Zimbabwean children.

“Before the food distribution” said Nyadire Mission hospital matron Crescencia Dangarembga, “the situation was bad as most workers did not have adequate food, attributable to the effects of drought. We had no hope on where to get food.

“When TNC came to our help, we were greatly relieved and thankful. The Lord took a heavy load from us. We are so happy.”

However, she said, the wider community has not been spared from famine.

“Malnourished children have started coming to the hospital. We treat them according to the degree of malnutrition. Either admit and feed or prescribe home remedy,” Dangarembga said.

Tafadzwa Alisho pushed a wheelbarrow containing the monthly ration for his brother, who had a stroke. “My brother works for the hospital,” Alisho said, “but he sent me to collect his share. As a family, we are very happy with this assistance. We would not have managed to cover his medication and food.”

Ruth Mukombwe, general hand, said due to the poor harvest and skyrocketing maize prices, feeding large families has been difficult.  

“With this help, we are very grateful. This will go a long way in alleviating our suffering,” she said.  

Blessing Kurehwatiwa expressed her happiness at receiving the food support.

“We are three in my family. With this support, we no longer have any stress. It complements our salaries so well. I am very happy.” 

The Rev. Lancelot Mukundu, who chairs the Nyadire Mission station, said the program has brought relief to mission residents, including interns and staff at the six clinics under the Nyadire administration.

“Most employees at the center are government employees whose salaries are below the Poverty Datum Line, and the monthly food hampers have brought in the expected daily bread on the table for this drought-stricken community.

“This is a God-given activity, which will see the mission center residents sailing through this severe drought smoothly,” Mukundu said. “This program will see the reduction in petty theft issues that are hunger motivated. We thank God for giving these special friends from the USA who have always sacrificed their time, resources and skills for the benefit of Nyadire residents.”

This article originally appeared at UM News. 

Kudzai Chingwe is a communicator for the Zimbabwe East Conference and contributor to UM News.