ZAMBIA: Jesuits Support Over 3,000 Families with Food Supplements as Covid-19 Relief

Mwenya Mukuka

Inspired by the third universal apostolic preference of the Jesuits, the Covid-19 response by the Society of Jesus in Zambia, has helped over 3,800 families in Lusaka at a cost of USD $72,642.84/= over the last year.

More than 30 parishes and institutions in Lusaka were the beneficiaries of such food parcels.

This is according to a statement issued by Fr Matthew Charlesworth, SJ, the Communications Director for the Society of Jesus in Southern Africa recently.

Fr Charlesworth further said the Jesuits are offering a further 1,710 food parcels to 3 dioceses in the country saying that since 25^th March 2021 the Society of Jesus in Zambia is now part of the Jesuit’s Southern Africa Province (SAP), hence the rebranding of this campaign.

Father Charlesworth also said that the Covid-19 relief now continues in an expanded form to help even more people in the dioceses of Chipata, Monze and Kabwe.

“Noting with alarm the growing food insecurity in the country, a total of 1,710 food parcels will be given out comprising of mealie-meal, sugar, cooking oil and soya chunks. It is our hope that this small contribution that this campaign is making will help families in the respective dioceses to have something on the table, at least for the coming few weeks. We wish to thank our benefactors who have donated these food items to the value of USD$25,000/= for without their support, we would not be able to offer this help,” he said.

Fr Charlesworth has further noted with gratitude Governments’ effort to secure COVID-19 vaccines in Zambia though he noted with deep concern many conspiracy theories surrounding such vaccines.

The Society of Jesus in Southern Africa is a Catholic religious order of approximately three hundred priests and brothers operating in South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe and is headquartered in Lusaka, Zambia.

It is celebrating the 500^th anniversary of its founder, St Ignatius Loyola, in May 2021- July 2022.