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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Matabeleland South Bureau Chief
CHRISTMAS came early for Gwanda Old People’s Home after inmates received groceries from fast food outlet, Simbisa Brands.
The six inmates at the home, which was established in 2005 and is a referral point for Matabeleland South Province, were treated to a feast fit for royalty.
One of the elderly people at the home, Mr Niton Moyo (90), said the gesture by Simbisa Brands has brought great joy to him.
“It’s a delight to see people and companies coming to our home to offer assistance. This place is our home and this is where we get all that we need such as clothing, toiletries and food. When we see assistance coming like this we know that our needs are catered for. We thank Government for creating this home for us,” he said.
Ms Agnes Ndlovu (101) said such interventions make the festive season meaningful to her. She said she was glad that various stakeholders remember them, especially during the festive season.
Mr Johanne Paulo Moyo (82) who has been an inmate at the home since 2005 when it was established, said the visits and donations from well-wishers have kept them going. He said they have helped to ensure that they are bathed, clothed and fed.
Mr Moyo said the home can get lonely and the visits make a huge difference.
“Getting such an intervention reminds us that we haven’t been forgotten or abandoned. Christmas time is a time for everyone to be merry and we are glad that we have well-wishers who enable us to also join in the festivities,” he said.
He said the brand is this year celebrating 35 years of existence in Zimbabwe. Mr Ncube said this would not have been possible without the support of the community.
“In 1987 Simbisa Brands started off with one branch in Bulawayo. Today it has grown in leaps and bounds and it now has a number of brands which include Chicken Inn, Creamy Inn, Bakers Inn, Steers, Ocean Basket and Haefelis among others. Simbisa Brands has been made strong by everyone including the elderly people that we see here who have been supporting us from way back.
“Our managing director saw it wise to appreciate and thank the people who have supported us and today we are giving back to the elderly people in Gwanda. Simbisa Brands has also been ploughing back to the community through other projects such as school fees payment for vulnerable children,” he said.
Gwanda Old People’s Home chairperson, Mr Gilbert Mabusa said the donation will go a long way in ensuring that the old people enjoy Christmas.
He said they were doing their best to make the home as comfortable as possible despite the shortage of resources.
Mr Mabusa said the home did not have funding which made it difficult to provide for the inmates. He said they sometimes receive allocations under Government’s food relief programmes through the Department of Social Welfare. Mr Mabusa said they also rely on the assistance they get from well-wishers such as members of the business community, institutions and individuals.
“We would like to thank Simbisa Brands for this valuable intervention. It will go a long way in alleviating the challenges that we face. As a committee, we are responsible for the upkeep of the inmates and whenever there is such as an intervention, it brings relief to us and management. It’s our desire to make the old people as comfortable as possible but resources are a constraint,” he said.
Mr Mabusa said the home needs a clinic to provide health services to the elderly.
“These days the town is experiencing long hours of load shedding which means that the home is without electricity for long hours. We need a gas stove and a solar back up system so that the old people do not use candles which are a risk,” Mr Mabusa said. – @DubeMatutu.
Online Reporter