Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Reporter
THE story of Mr Cletos Makuvire (59) is one of profound tragedy, resilience and ultimately bitter-sweet triumph.
Imagine the horror, a simple day at work, drilling boreholes in Binga District, suddenly turning into a nightmare.
A metal object struck Mr Makuvire’s right eye with brutal force, shattering not just his vision but his entire world.
The pain must have been excruciating, but worse was the cruel twist of fate when doctors confirmed that even his left eye could not be saved.
In an instant, darkness swallowed his sight and this was permanent.
“I was working for a borehole drilling company based in Bulawayo since 2019 as a driver. On this fateful Sunday, our company was contracted to drill boreholes for a non-governmental organisation in Binga.
“That is when I was hit by a metal object in my right eye. When I went to the hospital, I was advised that both my eyes were affected and I was to be operated on to remove them both,” narrated Mr Makuvire.
The emotional toll was unbearable. Once an independent man, he was now thrust into the vulnerable ranks of Zimbabwe’s disabled community, dependent on others for the simplest tasks.
His wife, a vendor at Mampankeni Market in Victoria Falls, became the family’s sole breadwinner, struggling to make ends meet in their rented home.
For 12 long years, since 2010, Mr Makuvire waited on a housing list, hoping for a lifeline.
“I worked for Zesa in Hwange since 1992 and in 2005 I then came to Victoria Falls where I started working as a security guard.
“In 2010, I then joined the housing waiting list here in Victoria Falls and tried my best to religiously keep up with my payments,” he said.
He endured the frustration of countless years wondering if his name would ever be called, if his suffering would ever be acknowledged.
The local authority’s delay must have felt like neglect, as if his plight was invisible, just like his stolen sight.
But then, on Friday, during the National Disability Expo in Victoria Falls, the impossible happened.
After over a decade of waiting, his name was finally announced.
He was one of 15 people with disabilities granted a housing stand by the City of Victoria Falls.
The relief must have been overwhelming, a rare victory in a life marked by hardship. Yet, beneath the joy, there is still worry about how he will raise the money to construct a house.
Another beneficiary who spoke to Sunday News soon after receiving his offer letter and a wheelchair from President Mnangagwa, Mr Talent Banda, expressed his gratitude for the gesture.
“I became disabled after being diagnosed with polio. It affected both my legs and I became wheelchair bound. I lost several life opportunities, including basic human rights like education.
“I am now a curio carver and vendor based at Chidobe rural in the outskirts of Victoria Falls. I applied for a stand a few years ago and I am happy that I have finally benefitted,” he said.
In an interview with Zimpapers, Victoria Falls Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube described the gesture as council’s commitment to upholding constitutional rights and ensuring equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.
“The constitution states that disabled people are equal citizens. Being equal citizens means that they should be given the right to participation. So we encourage our disabled fraternity to participate and register for any upcoming residential scheme, which most of them did,” said Mr Dube.
He explained that the beneficiaries were selected based on their qualifications in the previous housing scheme and were adopted into this initiative to address economic disparities.
“We are doing this out of the realisation that our disabled people, in most circumstances, are disadvantaged economically. So even the terms and conditions of the offer letter that were given to our disabled people are somehow more lenient than the normal terms and conditions,” he said.
The initiative aligns with national and local housing policies, which advocates for housing quotas for persons with disabilities.
“We did this in recognition of the fact that in the national housing policy and in our own housing policy, there is a call for a quarter for persons with disability. As a council, we wanted to be the first one to lead in this agenda of inclusive income,” he said.
Beyond housing, the council is also implementing inclusive employment policies.
“As we speak, in a total establishment of about 250, about 10 of our workers are living with disabilities. We integrate them fully into our workforce so that they do not feel discriminated against,” he said.
Mr Dube expressed hope that other sectors in Victoria Falls would follow suit in embracing inclusivity, in line with the Second Republic’s broader agenda.
This development comes at a time President Mnangagwa has called for accessible infrastructure, inclusive education, employment opportunities and legislative reforms to ensure full participation of persons with disabilities in the economy.
True to his commitment to empowerment, Vice-President Mohadi on Friday handed over a Presidential donation package to support income-generating projects for persons with disabilities, including 20 tonnes of rice, 50 goats for the Presidential Goat Scheme, 50 pigs for the Presidential Piggery Project, 10 incubators for the Presidential
Roadrunners Contract Farming and assistive devices to be distributed across all 10 provinces.
