MIDWEEK REPORTER
MASVINGO-The only old people’s home in the ancient city is appealing for a pool vehicle which can be used in medical emergencies for the elderly and to ferry goods among other things.
The home which is in Mucheke has 18 inmates and the vehicle will be of great relief as they are currently relying on superintendent Laina Madambi’s private car for errands which include taking the inmates to hospital in cases of emergencies or routine medical check ups.
“The home needs a lot of things but the most urgent ones are a vehicle, pavings as the pathways are muddy and sometimes the inmates fail to go to the dining hall as the pathways are too slippery for them to walk to the dining room for food.
“We also require cash for day to day needs of the home and to that effect we appeal to donors and well-wishers to assist with start up capital for us to venture into a chicken project which will generate money for our use at the home,” said Madambi.
She also said that they need solar or rechargeable lights for use by the elders as candles are very risky because they can catch fire and cause a disaster at the home.
Meanwhile, the Ngorima and Charumbira families based in South Africa, but with roots in Masvingo hosted a lunch for the 18 inmates at Ginnex Events, Channel 1 Complex in the CBD last Sunday.
“We are very grateful to the Charumbira and Ngorima families for affording the elderly the opportunity to get into town and have lunch in an out-door atmosphere.
“We urge others to emulate what has been done here as these elderly people need to be taken care of as part of our families. We hope they will continue the good gesture for our elderly people who desperately need this for relief of stress and other ailments which may not need a doctor,” said Madambi.
Emilia Zimbango (77) expressed joy as she munched the sumptuous meal that was cooked by Lion Regina Munyamani who runs Ginnex Events.
Gy Stevyn (62) said; “I last had such a meal a long time ago and this has come at the most opportune time, it also gives us the opportunity to see the CBD as we are always confined to our home, we hope this gesture of goodwill will continue even to those who will come after us,”.
Lion Regina said she will continue to lobby for more donors on behalf of the home which she has virtually adopted.
“We have been promised more things by the Ngorimas and very soon we are going to take delivery of wardrobes and beds for each inmate,” she told The Midweek Watch.
There are 10 women and eight males at Mucheke Old People’s Home and the eldest is Sekuru Gonamenye who is 107 years old.
The home which was established in 1980 has four employees including the superintendent is the brainchild of Baptist Convention of Zimbabwe and is run under the supervision on Masvingo City Council.
