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Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
AN elderly Chipinge woman is appealing for assistance to buy special shoes for her four-year-old granddaughter who sustained injuries on her legs after being struck by lightning four years ago.
Mrs Vaina Dhliwayo of Watershed area said US$50 is required for a pair of special shoes for Makanaka Dhliwayo.
Makanaka survived the lightning bolt that struck and killed four family members, including both her parents, while they were working in their fields.
She was strapped on her mother’s back on the day tragedy struck.
After being struck by lightning, Makanaka’s mother fell on her back and nearly suffocated her.
A plastic polyethylene she was using as a raincoat caught fire and burnt the baby’s limbs and part of her head.
After hearing the cries for help, a neighbour rushed to the scene and managed to rescue the baby from beneath her mother’s dead body.
Makanaka lost her feet as a result of burns sustained during the incident,.
Now she is four-years-old but struggling to walk.
Her grandmother is looking after her and said she is facing challenges.
“I have been staying with Makanaka since her parents’ death four years ago. She has difficulties walking and needs special kind of shoes that are going for US$50 a pair. I have no means to raise that money and I am appealing for assistance,” she said.
Chipinge District Development Coordinator, Mr Tedious Beto called on corporate entities to chip in with assistance.
“The child’s ordeal is painful. After surviving the lightning that killed both her parents, she is like a miracle child to us as she was hospitalised for three months battling for life. Now she is four and in dire need of special shoes to enable her to walk properly. We are appealing for assistance to help her,” said Mr Beto.
Those willing to assist Mrs Dhliwayo can contact her on 0771 108 002.
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