Victoria Falls sets US$20 000 Mayor’s cheer fund target for charity

Victoria Falls Correspondent

THE City of Victoria Falls has started preparations for the 2026 Mayor’s Cheer Fund with council targeting to raise US$20 000 for charity in the coming months.

The city has set December 4, 2026, as the date for the launch and an environmental walkathon comprising 50km, 20km and 10km walks.

The walkathon is in its third year after being introduced in 2024, and the 50km walk will start from the Laybye between Matetsi Bridge and Lubangwe Bridge.

City Mayor, Councillor Prince Thuso Moyo, has already set up a board of trustees comprising trusted and influential community members from a cross section of the Victoria Falls community.

The 50km environmental walkathon enters its 3rd year with the second edition last year attracting over 100 participants.

The walkathon comprised of a clean-up along the highway with various development partner organisations and Hwange Rural District Council taking part.

Corporate bodies donated refreshments, fruits and other items towards the Cheer Fund activities.

Last year the City introduced the inaugural Mayor’s Cheer Fund Soccer Cup as one of the Mayor’s Cheer Fund activities, where 14 local soccer teams participated and this year the second edition has attracted much attention with over 20 teams already showing interest.

Buhera RDC was among the 14 teams at last year’s Soccer Cup, which was won by Insika Lodge FC.

According to the local authority, registration for the soccer tournament has started and will close on 11 September, to allow preliminary knockouts stages during the month of November.

Semi-finals and final will be played on the weekend of 28 and 29 November, a week before the walkathon and launch.

This year interest has grown and more than 20 social soccer teams are expected to take part, with registration having started.

The Victoria Falls Mayor’s Cheer Fund is an annual charitable initiative run by the City of Victoria Falls to mobilise businesses, residents and civic organisations to support vulnerable people in the community, with particular attention to children, elderly people, orphans and other vulnerable groups.

On the day of launch last year, 40 vulnerable families compared to 26 in 2024, received grocery hampers. These included 8 PWDs, 17 widows, 5 OVCs and 10 elderly.

Over US$2 000 was paid towards school fees for needy children.

The Victoria Falls City Council has expressed gratitude to the support that the business community, residents and partners continue to render to the Mayor’s Cheer Fund.