Chronicle Editor
Amanda Mlevu, Sunday News Reporter
SPA Community Trust and its partners has organised an event to honour the elderly who have reached the remarkable age of 100 years and beyond.
The celebration will see centenarians from Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South Provinces coming together on Friday, where they will be taken care of, with luxury lodges having been booked for their pampering.
The founder and CEO of SPA Community Trust Mrs Nokuthula Ncube said they were inspired by how the Queen of England, who began a custom of celebrating centenarians by writing them letters and delivering cakes door to door.
“We also came up with the idea of celebrating our very own centenarians and make sure that outside their families they are celebrated and appreciated,” said Mrs Ncube.
SPA Trust Community partnered with Nust, Bulawayo City Council and the Government to ensure that the elderly are well fed and their accommodation is secure. Mrs Ncube said they have 60 registered centenaries who have confirmed attendance adding that the initial number was 70 but some of them could not attend due to illnesses.
She said that last time, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa gave them a mandate to make the event a national one and in light of the call she said they were going to include Midlands Province starting next year.
“The goal is to make these celebrations nationwide so that we reach all centenarians in Zimbabwe, and we hope to be getting more sponsors so that it gets bigger,” she said.
Bulawayo Mayor, Clr David Coltart, will on Friday have a photo shoot with the elderly at City Hall. During the day they will be entertained by drum majorettes from Amhlophe High and they will be taken on a tour around town.
Mrs Ncube said they would feel cherished if the community joins them in celebrating the extraordinary lives of the country’s centenarians.
Bongani Ndlovu