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Sione Amidu, Gwanda Correspondent
IN their old age, many hope to spend their days surrounded by family, particularly their children who take up the responsibility of looking after them. Sadly, this is not so for others, some of whom have found solace in institutions that take care of the homeless.
Gwanda Old People’s Home is one such institution which has become an oasis for the elderly, particularly those of Malawian and Mozambican origin, who seemingly do not have anyone else to look after them.
Established in 1988 by a grouping of traditional chiefs, the home has been a saving grace for pensioners with nowhere else to call home. After toiling through their youthful years at mines such as Blanket, Jersey and Vubachikwe, some of the pensioners coming from as far as Malawi and Mozambique found themselves destitute upon retirement.
When death came knocking on their door, some bodies would spend years in mortuaries with no one coming forward to claim them. Now, the home liaises with the Department of Social Welfare to arrange burial for the abandoned foreign nationals locally.
One of the residents at the home, Khulu Niton Moyo (90) was banished from his community in the mining town after being labelled a witch. He had lost his wife and five children. The remaining four children abandoned him as they believed the allegations levelled against him.
Gwanda Old People’s Home does not only provide shelter and hearty meals but it is also a place of companionship for people like Khulu Moyo. Some of the elderly housed at the home do not get visitors and find comfort in sharing the home with others in similar situations.
The residents also treasure visits they get from well-wishers who interact with them and leave behind donations such as groceries and clothing as was the case following a visit by members of the United African Apostolic Church recently. The church donated groceries, toiletries, a water pump, blankets, buckets, dishes, slippers and bath towels to the home. Khulu Moyo said there have been water challenges at the home and the church had come to their rescue.
“We are very happy with what (Rido) Mpofu has done for us. We have been crying over water challenges at our home and had no other means of getting water. A borehole was drilled but we had no means of pumping water. We are very grateful to the Lord, may He give us the strength to work using our hands so that we get food. May the Lord bless Mpofu and keep him alive until we depart from this world,” said Khulu Moyo.
Another resident at the home, Gogo Agnes Ndlovu (102) does not have any children of her own. She lived with relatives before she found her way to the home. She said life has not been easy for her, especially in her old age.
“It’s a good feeling knowing that there are some people out there with such a big heart. When I came to this place, I found comfort because life has not been easy for me, especially in my old age. Before coming here, I lived with relatives, but I was now seeing myself as a burden to them because they would do everything for me while I brought nothing to the table. I have assured myself that this is where I belong; the people I live with here are my family and we’ve learnt to keep each other company,” she said.
Ambassador Yenzani Dube of United African Apostolic church said he rejoices when he gives to the needy as he gets blessings after the offering. He quoted the Bible which says it is a mandate to give to those in need.
“As a congregation, we came to give the residents at the old people’s home things they don’t have. It’s important for churches to look after the needy because they left their homesteads due to the unavailability of these resources. The Bible says blessed is the hand that gives than the hand that receives. It also says a child who does not cater for his or her parents’ needs is not blessed because blessings come from the parents. It’s important for children to cater for their parents for everything to go well in their life,” he said.
The chairperson of Gwanda Old People’s Home Association, Mr Rido Mpofu said, “We are very grateful for this wonderful deed. These people are in need as they came from different areas with some from Malawi and Mozambique. The residents are here because of various reasons and as an institution, our mandate is to provide our residents with a home where they are welcomed,” he said.
Gwanda Mayor Councillor Thulani Moyo said the old people’s home would be exempted from paying rates.
“My council will continue supporting churches that are in line with the government’s vision of ensuring that there is food security across the country. We don’t want churches that disregard cultural values. Instead of helping the needy, they demand money from them. What the church has done here today is a challenge to us the councillors; we’re going to make it a point that we exempt this place from paying for water. As a council, we have given the old people’s home more land to build more houses because there are a lot of people out there who need this facility but the rooms are limited,” said Clr Moyo.
Gwanda Town Clerk Ms Priscillah Nkala highlighted the importance of helping one another and lauded churches for leading by example.
“We are grateful to this congregation for this wonderful work. We as black people are of the belief that only the whites are capable of giving to the needy. We are now seeing that churches are now playing that role and this is a marvellous deed. In the Bible, in James Chapter 2, there is a verse which emphasises that faith without works is dead,” she said.
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