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Takawira Dapi
THE Covid-19 lockdown that has restricted movement and shut down many businesses has left especially elderly people reeling as they are failing to fend for their grandchildren, a charitable organisation discovered last week.
Mubatirapamwe Trust last week made a series of foodstuff donations in Bulawayo and its environs and unearthed tales of distressed children and elders whose parents and breadwinners were presently locked down in South Africa and Botswana due to the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns.
The Trust’s executive director, Kiri Madamombe told B-Metro that the situation was quite touching.
“During our visit to Bulawayo for food aid donations, the trustees witnessed heart rending moments especially for guardian grandmothers and grandmothers who are failing to feed their grandchildren due to Covid-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions that have seen closure of national borders, companies, loss of income and drying up diaspora remittances.”
The situation had seen many children going hungry and with some among the community having taken up the challenge to assist.
One such benefactor, Gogo MaMpofu feeds more than 119 children daily.
“My heart still bleeds with what we discovered in Nketa whereby one of the beneficiaries dropped off from law school in the 4th year due to lack of funds.
“This is a waste of Government resources on her education. The same girl has a brother who also dropped from school. Worse, most kids and elderly people who survived on diaspora remittances were also affected.”
Those with different challenges such as like physical disability and those with chronic ailments also received donations on the day.
“Mubatirapamwe also responded to a Chronicle story which highlighted the plight of three children whose mother went to South Africa and is no longer sending money for their upkeep.
“As such, a tenant is now responsible for their upkeep for at least two years now. “
Yet another touching story was about a single mother with heart complications who is also incapable of taking care of her children.
“The husband is currently in remand prison for an alleged attempted rape on one of their four daughters. The family’s situation is made worse by that they are surviving on daily handouts while residing at someone’s stand that they just invaded and now live in a shack of an unfinished slab in Romney Park, whose owner is in SA. There are no ablution and water reticulation systems, they did that after they went desperate. The owner of this house later heard about an alleged vagrant family, he came and felt pity and finally left them staying there,” said Madamombe after their tour during which they handed out goods to the vulnerable families.
Online Reporter