Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Permanent Secretary, Pfungwa Kunaka, visited Masvingo, yesterday, to assess assistance being provided to families affected by a devastating hailstorm earlier this month.
Kunaka engaged social workers, frontline response teams, local authorities and affected households to review progress in providing shelter support, social assistance and other recovery measures.
He said assessing conditions on the ground was essential in ensuring that assistance reached the intended beneficiaries and responded to the actual needs of affected families.
“Social protection is not just about policies and programmes on paper; it is about people and the difference we make in their lives.
We must be present in communities, understand the challenges families are facing and ensure that the support being provided responds to their needs,” Kunaka said.
He said the engagement with social workers and frontline teams was important in identifying gaps in assistance and strengthening coordination among those involved in the recovery process.
“Our social workers and frontline teams play a critical role because they work directly with communities and understand the circumstances of affected households.
We need to listen to them, work closely with local authorities and ensure that no family is overlooked during the recovery process,” he added.
Kunaka said shelter support and social assistance remained important components of the response, particularly for households whose living conditions had been disrupted by the hailstorm.
“When families are affected by disasters, their immediate needs must be assessed and addressed. We must pay attention to shelter, social assistance and the broader challenges they face as they work to restore their lives,” he said.
He added that engaging affected households enabled officials to gain a clearer understanding of the impact of the disaster and evaluate whether assistance was reaching those who needed it most.
“Visiting affected families allows us to hear their experiences directly and assess the progress being made. Our responsibility is to ensure that interventions are responsive, coordinated and focused on helping people recover,” Kunaka said.
He said the forthcoming Social Protection Week provided an opportunity to reinforce the importance of inclusive support systems that protect vulnerable people, particularly during emergencies.
“Social protection must put people at the centre of everything we do. Our commitment is to leave no one behind, especially families facing difficult circumstances and those who need support to recover from unexpected shocks,” he said.
Meanwhile, Government continues to prioritise social protection interventions aimed at improving the welfare of vulnerable households and strengthening community resilience.
