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Beatrice Tonhodzayi-Ngondo Make A Difference
THROWING food in the bin just because I cannot finish it is something I no longer do. I have learnt to only put onto my plate what I can finish. The same rule applies for everyone in my home. One cannot just waste food. If one feels that they would rather eat less on a particular day, they should just say so.
My son is now so good at telling all and sundry that “food is a blessing from God that one must never throw away. So you cannot leave food on your plate.” Visitors to our house, who do not have this same principle, have by now grasped it because he makes it a point to tell them.
Yes, there are people who throw food away.
Such things happen as people take advantage of their good fortune and the provision that blesses their daily life.
Just look at your closet today and honestly ask yourself whether you ever get round to wearing all the clothes that are in there.
Some of us are very good collectors. Once we see it, we must have it. One, two or three wears down the line, we can barely remember it.
Many women have this weakness with handbags, shoes and clothes.
They just cannot resist them even though space to pack these collections once one gets home can be a headache.
These are the lives we lead and we take them for granted.
Some among us even feel that we are entitled to them.
I remember a conversation with some friends of mine while travelling some years back.
One light skinned friend of mine asked why we (the darker skinned friends) had to always have meat each time we ordered a meal.
One of my friends said there is no way our light skinned friend could understand because meat had always been on her diet unless she did not want it whereas for most of us growing up, meat had been a luxury, to be enjoyed during the Christmas holiday.
We all joined in and told our lighter skinned friend that in many of our homes growing up, just one small piece of meat was adequate for us at meal times and the pieces would be carefully counted so that everyone would get one. As such, we had to eat as much meat as we wanted to make up for that historical imbalance.
We laughed about this conversation a week ago with a colleague when we reminisced about those good old days in light of developments today, where eating too much meat is said not to be good for one’s health.
Without asking anyone to forego their indulgences and luxuries, the question for today is, have we ever spared a thought for the families at Chingwizi?
Watching news on ZTV a few nights ago, I was heartbroken to see tonnes upon tonnes of maize meal donated to the families at the holding camp, lying there all soggy, damaged and useless following heavy rains that fell in the area.
I saw the people, looked at their faces and realised that they are just like you and me and they have been dealt a heavy blow.
An involuntary gasp escaped me as the footage continued to flash across the screen. Unbidden these words came out of me; “Ko Mwari akatsamweyiko?” (Why is God angry?) Somehow the tragedies these people are going through are getting worse by the day. They lost their homes and that is calamity enough.
Donations of food and tents were made and now the tents have been destroyed and so is the food. Surely the maize meal could have been stored in containers?
Colleagues who have been to Chingwizi tell me some of them are still asking what happened to the livestock left in their old homes.
There are now cases of diarrhoea in the camp and that should be expected. When so many people are gathered together in one place, eating food that is not properly stored and cooked, what do we expect?
Disease will come.
As the news bulletin continued, my son said; “Mummy now I know why we should never throw food away. Just like the street kids, these people would actually love to have a hot meal like ours,” he said much to my pride.
The situation at Chingwizi is serious.
It is one that calls for each one of us to spare a thought, a penny, a dollar, a dress, a pair of shoes, something; to make someone’s day better.
All those things we love to collect and never get to wear can bring warmth and comfort to someone at that camp.
All that food we have stocked up and do not ever get to eat can be eaten by someone.
The blankets we have deemed too old and thin may be warmth for someone. The trunks upon trunks of baby clothes we have in our closets that will not be worn by anyone can keep someone covered and warm.
One of my pastors said if you do not wear it for a full month then you do not need it.
But how many of us go for months or a year without putting on some of the clothes in our closets on?
This is the time that we need to see humanity at play.
We have done it before when children needed funds for treatment; we can do it again.
Just think of the children at that camp, out in the dark, confused just like their parents?
Surely we can spare a thought for those people. If getting the stuff to Chingwizi is the problem, then we as Zimpapers can do that for you.
Just simply approach any of our offices and your donations will be taken to those who need your help the most.
For how can we sleep when those people are in anguish?
If we can answer that question, a difference will be made and felt.
Online Reporter