Community Spirit Alights in Victoria Falls: Blanket Project Builds Warmth and Hope

VICTORIA FALLS – The Donate a Blanket Project, is transforming the lives of Victoria Falls’ most vulnerable residents, proving that community action can forge a path through the coldest winters.

Launched earlier this year by local leader George Mhlanga, the project has rapidly expanded from a ward-level effort into a city-wide movement, providing essential warmth and a renewed sense of solidarity.

The project was pioneered by George Mhlanga, a former council candidate for Ward 11. Though unsuccessful in his bid, Mhlanga channeled his energy into service, inspired by the national mantra, “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo / Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo” (A country is built by its owners).

“The call that no one should be left behind stayed with me,” Mhlanga explained. “I knew I had to take tangible action to help the vulnerable in my ward and beyond.”

That action culminated in a significant distribution event on May 10, 2025, where over 120 orphans, elderly residents, and people living with disabilities in Mkosana received blankets and warm clothing.

The impact is deeply personal. “Life will never be the same for me and my grandchildren. This blanket means everything,” shared an elderly woman from Garikai Compound.

A father from Mfelandawonye expressed grateful disbelief: “I didn’t believe it until I held the blankets in my hands. For the first time in a long time, we slept warm.”

The project’s success is fueled by a broad coalition of support. A network of local businesses—including Wild Horizons, Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Ilala Lodge, and several legal and medical firms—has joined the cause, alongside a growing number of individual volunteers and donors.

“People are starting to arrive with their own donations—blankets, jerseys, warm clothes. It’s beautiful to see communities uniting,” Mhlanga noted.

A spokesperson from a supporting tourism company affirmed their commitment, stating, “We fully support the government’s mantra that no one must be left behind and will keep sourcing funds to support this initiative.”

Building a Warmer Future

With momentum building, the project’s ambitions are growing. Planning is already underway to expand city-wide and into rural areas of Matabeleland North for 2026.

And the warmth doesn’t stop with winter. The project has launched a Christmas Hamper Drive, appealing for donations of food and essentials by December 10 to brighten the festive season for disadvantaged families.

What began as a simple act of kindness has evolved into a powerful testament to community spirit. As Mhlanga puts it, “We are building this country one act of love at a time.”