Speaking at a handover ceremony of groceries and other goods in Shamva at the weekend by Hamilton Insurance, Lands and Agriculture minister, Perrance Shiri lamented the deplorable state the people were living in, a situation further worsened by the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Shiri said the people who live in Shamva urban had been unlucky in terms of food aid from the donor community whose focus was largely on the rural areas.

“As you can see, these faces are of a people suffering, therefore, the donation will go a long way,” Shiri said.

She noted the residents were not receiving food aid at a time when many had been rendered unproductive owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of the mine.

“We were advised of a number of disabled people in Shamva town who are being left out from NGO donations.