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Veronica Gwaze
MBARE’S 12-year-old Sam Mlambo’s heart-breaking tale featured last Saturday touched the hearts of many.
For siblings, Munashe and Rutendo Ndoro, the story was much more than any other usual Saturday read.
Mlambo’s story did not only give them a different view on life’s opportunities and privileges; it invoked profound sentiments.
The Westgate siblings took some of their own clothes to share with the Mbare pupil. The siblings also begged their parents to get groceries and some money for young Mlambo.
The two are not alone; other well-wishers within and beyond borders have come forth to assist with groceries and money through popular comedian, Mai Titi, who has been assisting the boy and his family for some time.
Another group of well-wishers in the United Kingdom has also launched a fund-raising campaign for Mlambo, his three siblings and their septuagenarian grandmother, who has been struggling to fend for the family.
Mlambo lost his right arm, when he was still a toddler, in a case that his family believes was negligence on the part of health care workers at one of the hospitals in Harare.
As if the loss of his right arm was not enough, in 2013 and 2014, the Team Mai Titi Football Club, formerly Real Stars, forward was also to lose his mother and father respectively.
Together with his three siblings, the Nharira Primary School pupils live under the care of their 74-year-old grandmother, Ottilia Mlambo.
The unemployed grandmother uses the rent she collects from her tenant to pay for her grandchildren’s fees, leaving her with no money to place a decent meal on the table for her grandchildren.
This led Mlambo to resort to cleaning buses at Mbare Musika and begging, and at one time forcing him to abandon his sporting passion in soccer and sometimes missing on school.
“I have a tenant who rents out one room, the amount is very little but it at least helps me to pay school fees for the children,” explains the grandmother.
“I feel very relieved and thankful for the help that we are getting but above all, it brings so much joy to see Sam being able to smile.
“We are getting some groceries, clothes and money. In fact, I will go to the school and clear some of the arrears in school fees that they (Sam and siblings) had in tuition fees and levies so that when lockdown is over they will not be turned away from school.”
Born in 2008, the same year with Mlambo, Munashe Ndoro is a Grade Six Alexandra Park Primary School, Harare, pupil while Rutendo Ndoro (16) is a student at Monte Casino Girls’ High in Mashonaland East.
Their father, Joseph Ndoro, understands the grief he saw in his children’s eyes, after reading Mlambo’s tale. It reminded his family of how fortunate they are.
“Both our children were greatly moved by the story that you guys published and I could see they were affected emotionally,” he explained.
Online Reporter