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Nozibelo Maphosa, Sunday News Reporter
“LOVE your neighbours as yourself.”
This is listed in Mark 12 vs 31 in the Bible as the second most important commandment after the one where people are to “… love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
And residents in Nkulumane 5 in Bulawayo have shown that they love their neighbour, the same way they love themselves as they have helped a neighbouring family which lost all its property when their house was destroyed by fire a few weeks ago.
The tenant, Ms Moreblessing Nkomo told Sunday News last week that her family has received money and other basic necessities from neighbours and well-wishers to help buy some goods that were destroyed by the fire.
“My church gave us $300 to buy food and clothes. The Bulawayo Women in Business gave us $120. We have been receiving aid from our neighbours, they gave us blankets and a double bed too. Members of the local residents association have pledged to give us money to reconnect electricity,” said Ms Nkomo.
She said the house caught fire which destroyed all the property on 1 November.
“I left home in the morning, my children were also at home, the eldest is six and the other one is four. My neighbour called me to notify me about the fire, and I rushed home.
“My neighbour told me the fire started from the sitting room, but they failed to extinguish it as my couch had already caught fire. Up to now I don’t know what caused the fire, because I don’t keep matchsticks, however, I think the fire started from one of the adapters,” said Ms Nkomo.
She said all the property that was in the house was destroyed.
“It was very fortunate that everyone managed to escape unhurt, even though everything was burnt in the fire, we were left with nothing. I lost property amounting to $2 000. However, our neighbours have been offering us help since that day.”
Ms Nkomo said her landlord who is an elderly man understood their situation and did not kick them out of the house.
“When my landlord heard about the fire he came to inspect the house, he was very understanding and said I could continue living with my family,” she said.
derick.khumalo