Mentally challenged brothers taken in

mentally challenged brothers in Murewa.
Healthy Ministry officials, the Zimbabwe National Association of Mental Health and Tariro Halfway Homes’ officials visited the Zongororo family in Chingara Village and took the duo to Harare Hospital’s Psychiatric Unit.
Gerald (21) and Jackson (18) were left in the custody of their brother James (22) after the death of their aunt in January this year.
When The Herald visited the Zongororo homestead, Jackson who cannot talk was tied to a peg on a hut.
His brother James said they had repeatedly tied him like that for the past six years to stop him from running away from home.
James would untie Jackson to bathe him. Jackson, who looked clean, would be allowed into the house at night.
“We started tying Jackson in 2005 after the death of our parents when we were left in the custody of our paternal grandparents who also passed on.
“After that our aunt took care of us until she died. No one could control Jackson in his condition and the only option was to tie him up,” James said.
James said Jackson was sometimes violent and would destroy household property.
“I love my brother so much such that I was afraid that one day he would seriously hurt himself,” he said.
Gerald is said to be more stable and is capable of doing some household chores.
James went to school up to Form Four but did not sit for examinations because of financial constraints.
He said Jackson never attended school while Gerald dropped out in Grade Three.
Their elderly uncle and aunt, who live nearby, said they sometimes help but cannot assist financially.
According to James, their diet consists largely of sadza and green vegetables.
Mental health manager in the health Ministry, Mr Manas Masike said the situation was “sad”.
ZIMNAMH director Mr Ignatious Murambidzi and his Tariro Homes counterpart, Mr Lovemore Pasina, said James had done the best he could in difficult circumstances.
A clinical social worker at Harare Hospital, Mr Clemence Machingauta, said Jackson was violent because he was not getting medication.
Gerald and Jackson will undergo rehabilitation.
James appealed to wellwishers for financial assistance to enable him to write his Ordinary Level exams and buy food.