SHANNISE DZOBO
MASVINGO-Reformed Church of University (RCU) in conjunction with Masvingo Association of Residential Care Facilities Trust (MARCFT) has donated a physio-prescribed wheelchair to Tinashe Mabika (17) in Masvingo City.
RCU came through after MARCFT made an appeal through a flier in different WhatsApp platforms and other social media platforms for cash donations towards the purchase of a wheelchair to be used by Mabika who has been living with cerebral palsy since birth.
During the handover, RCU Vice Chancellor, Prof Emmanuel Dumbu said that the university is working tirelessly to ensure that people with disabilities are assisted in every way possible.
“As a university we have various initiatives and support structures in place to ensure that those people living with disabilities get the help and necessary guidance needed for them to fit into the society and that is the reason why we are here today to handover the wheelchair to Tinashe Mabika,” said Dumbu.
Dumbu went on to say that as an inclusive institution with compassion towards children and people living with disabilities, they are in the process of building an inclusivity hub which will enable RCU to manufacture various assistive devices which goes in line with the Heritage Based 5.0 learning philosophy and motto “Building a legacy through Inclusivity”.
MARCFT director, Zendakwaye Zendakwaye said that their organisation is a networking body of residents, children’s homes, school for children living in the streets operating in Masvingo and Midlands provinces with the aim of enhancing and upgrading their operations.
“As an organisation with the aim of enhancing and upgrading operations of residential child care facilities, children’s homes, school for children living in the streets in both Masvingo and Midlands we have helped Tinashe in mobilising funds to purchase a wheelchair which will help his mobility and the mother too to go about doing her piece jobs without any hindrances”, said Zendakwaye.
“As we were mobilizing funds for Tinashe’s wheelchair we ended up getting 40 crutches that we are going to donate to those who are in need of them but cannot afford to buy them,” he added.
Edith Mugabe, Tinashe’s mother told The Midweek Watch that she was very happy with the kind gesture from the university as this will go a long way in helping her go about her household chores as she no longer has to carry him on her back.
“I am short of words with what RCU has done for my son, it gives me great joy that there are people who take liberty in helping others especially people with disabilities and with this help it is going to make me move around in doing my piece jobs without carrying him on my back,” said Mugabe.
“I am also appealing to the public to help me with capital to boost my poultry project so that I can take care of my three children as I am a widow and also in acquiring diapers for my son,” said Mugabe.
Purazeni Jakata a regional representative of National Association of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped also said that they are very grateful for this kind gesture by RCU and urged other institutions and organisations to emulate such generosity.
Vengai Kurunzirwa a member of the National Council for the Disabled also applauded RCU for the kind gesture and implored the institution to continue with the good work.
