Thousands benefit from Palau Association

The Palau Foundation which is currently conducting eye glass clinics in Chitungwiza and Harare has seen over a thousand residents benefiting through free screening and free glasses.

Courtesy of the Love Zimbabwe Festival being spearheaded by Andrew Palau, the programme which started on Monday will go up to tomorrow and is operating four centres-three in Harare and one in Chitungwiza.

Speaking to this publication on the side-lines of the programme in Chitungwiza at Unit L community hall, the Director for Africa for Lewis Palau Association, Bishop David Chigamba said the main thrust was to evangelise.
“I am here with the organisation called Palau Association to work together with the Mother Bodies of Zimbabwe,” said Bishop Chigamba.

“We are running this programme so as to spread the word of God. God has called us to evangelism, but we realise that we cannot just come and share the word. We do our best because we know that there are also needs, physical needs that people are going through that we need to meet.

“As an organisation we decided to bring in these eyeglasses so that we can help people, not just spiritual, but also their physical well-being. Our target beneficiaries are mostly from 40 years upwards.”

Bishop Chigamba said the response was overwhelming.

“The response has been overwhelming, I must say, and we are so grateful. We started yesterday (Monday), and we will go up to Thursday. So far, just yesterday alone, we were able to see over 500 people, and they got their glasses, and now they are good to go.

“We expect to assist around 12,000 people, but I must say that this is not only happening in Chitungwiza. We have other four centres that are carrying out the same activity in Glen Norah, Glenview and Mbare.”

The Palau Foundation has visited other countries in Africa such as Kenya, Zambia, Cote d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Ethiopia and in Zimbabwe for the first time, while next year will be Ghana.

He said that the eye clinics were part of a bigger picture.

“I want everybody to know that God cares for us as spiritual beings. Let me also continue to say that this is just part of the bigger picture. From Friday to Sunday, we are going to have a big festival, where thousands of people are going to come, and that is going to be at Zimbabwe Grounds.

I would like to invite everybody to come there.

“We are going to have children’s games, and young people, bicycles and motorbikes, and then we are going to have lots of music. We call it Love Zimbabwe Festival. All are welcome and it is free of charge.”Some of the beneficiaries expressed joy after getting assistance.

“I am very grateful for the assistance that has been rendered to us by this organisation. As a 75-year-old have challenges reading at night so these reading glasses will go a long way in assisting me. May the Lord bless them,” said Mr Arthur Taderera.

Mr David Madamburo (85) said, “I would like to express my jot to the organisers of this programme which has come at an opportune time. A lot of the elderly people in Chitungwiza have befitted.”