adminFrom George Maponga in Masvingo
The family of iconic philanthropist, the late Jairos Jiri, who dedicated his life to helping the physically and mentally challenged, has expressed concern over lack of recognition of the founding head and life president of Jairos Jiri Association, who died 38 years ago.
Jiri collapsed and died in Harare on November 12, 1982 and was interred at his rural home in Bikita.
In his lifetime, he hogged the limelight for tirelessly working to ensure that physically-challenged people were given an opportunity to develop their talents and achieve self-reliance away from the streets where they survived on begging.
The Jiri family over the weekend held a commemorative event at his Bikita home where concerns were raised over the apparent removal of the philanthropist from the national memory.
Concern was raised over apparent lack of recognition of the late Jiri despite his towering efforts in assisting people with disabilities in Zimbabwe, culminating in the formation of the acclaimed Jairos Jiri Association.
Family spokesperson, Ms Pamela Jiri, poured her heart out saying the family was totally excluded from the association founded by their father.
Ms Jiri said the late philanthropist’s children were struggling to earn a living and intimated that the nation had forgotten about them despite the huge role played by their father in improving the welfare of people living with disabilities.
“We are struggling to make ends meet as children of the late Jairos Jiri, but we just decided to hold a commemorative event at his home in Bikita in memory of our father and we are very grateful for the support that we got from Zimbabweans from all corners despite the fact that this was a private event,” said Ms Jiri.
“The late Jiri’s children including myself are unemployed and we have been totally excluded from the association (Jairos Jiri) that he toiled to set up.
“Our appeal and prayer was for some of us to be taken on board so that we can also benefit from our father’s sweat.”
She said the Jiri family was further disappointed that the late larger-than-life philanthropist appears to have been completely forgotten despite the work he did.
Baba Jiri was honoured by Zimbabweans who refer to him as Baba, meaning Respected Father. In 1982 when he died, he was honoured with National Hero status, but his family opted to bury him in his home village of Bikita instead of the National Heroes Acre in Harare.
Online Reporter