Martin Muleya
Nestled in the heart of Mutare City, Manicaland province, Zororai Old People’s Home has been a beacon of hope for the elderly since its establishment in 1975.
Donated by the City of Mutare as a charity initiative, the home has evolved into a community-based private voluntary habitat, providing a safe haven for old people above 65years and with no fixed aboard.
The home which operates with the support of the Department of Social Welfare offers shelter, care and companionship to elderly.
In an interview on the sidelines of a breakfast meeting with a local football club from Chikanga, Reactors FC, Zororai Old People’s Home Assistant Administrator Nyasha Mukosera highlighted that before the home became shelter for the elderly back then in the 1960s it was a migrant camp for people coming from Mozambique in search of jobs. They would get identity documents at the camp as well as work permits.
“In 1975 the camp was no longer serving its purpose to the community and City of Mutare donated the camp for charity purposes to the community. The Roman Catholic came in and assisted with constructing more buildings and donated a multi-purpose vehicle. So since then the place became a community based voluntary organization catering for the elderly above 65years. Our elderly come through the Department of Social Welfare and right now we have 11 elderly people we are looking after,” explained Mukosera.
She said the home faces a myriad of challenges in its day to day operations which include adult diapers, fuel, buckets, detergents, furniture, groceries and beds.
Mukosera added that the beds at the home were not even enough at the moment to admit a new inmates, hence their appeal for income generating projects for sustainability purposes.
Reactors FC director Monday Chipika said their visit to the Old People Home was to mingle with the elders and tap words of wisdom.
“We are Reactors Football Club and we want our boys to learn from the elders. We are here for breakfast so that they enjoy their Easter holiday in style. Society at times tend to forget the elderly so we are grooming the young boys so they know we have the elderly to be taken care of regardless of where they come from, it is all about love. So today we are giving out love on Easter holiday,” said Chipika.
Arnold Biriwasha a teenager playing for the team weighed in saying while he was not related to the elderly at the Home, as youngsters they were duty bound to look after them the same way they look after their parents.
“We are here to help the elderly they are our parents. This will help us tap wisdom from them as well as learning to co-exist with them,” Biriwasha noted.
Mukosera noted that through income generating projects, this will bring a renewed sense of hope and dignity to the residents, many of whom have expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to their own well-being.
