Moffat Mungazi
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
ZORORAI Old People’s Home in Sakubva lost four residents in four consecutive months from April to August this year, leaving the institution grappling with emotional and financial challenges.
In an interview on the sidelines of a donation of foodstuffs that include maize meal, maize, cooking oil, rice, sugar, salt, chunks, and other essentials from the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa on Monday, the home’s administrator, Miss Tariro Chitate, made a heartfelt appeal for assistance in establishing a funeral assurance or policy for the home’s residents.
She said they are in urgent need for support as they struggle with burying their senior residents with no support.
The home, a Public Voluntary Organisation (PVO), currently houses 12 elderly residents.
After the loss of the four, the home received four more residents.
However, the recurring challenge of securing funds for burials remains a pressing concern.
“We depend on donations as we are a PVO. Even for food, sometimes we end up struggling to make ends meet because donations are what sustain us. Without a structured plan for funerals, as a home, we are often struggle to give our departed residents a dignified send-off,” said Miss Chitate.
Miss Chitate expressed gratitude to Dr Mnangagwa for the generous food donation.
“On behalf of the residents and staff, I would like to extend our deepest thanks to the First Lady, Dr Mnangagwa for her unwavering support. The donation came at a time when we needed it most. These supplies will go a long way in easing the challenges we face in ensuring that our elderly residents are well catered for. We are incredibly grateful for the First Lady’s continuous compassion and for remembering us during these difficult times,” she said.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza who handed over the donation pledged to help seek funding that will assist in addressing the funeral and burial issues raised by the home, acknowledging the importance of ensuring that the elderly residents are treated with respect, even in death.
“We will address the challenges that you are facing here. Government is committed to ensuring that our elderly citizens, who have contributed to our society, are treated with the dignity they deserve, both in life and death. We will explore avenues for funding to help with the funeral and burial expenses to relieve the burden on the home,” he said.
Minister Mugadza said the donation also reflects Government’s broader strategy to uplift the welfare of marginalised groups as outlined in our National Development Strategy (NDS1).
For the residents, the challenges go beyond financial struggles.
Mbuya Dorcas Makakurireyi described the emotional toll of losing fellow residents and appealed for more community support.
“We feel the pain when one of us passes on. It is like losing a part of yourself because we have become a family here. We need help with food, clothes, and even just company. Growing old is not easy, and we rely on kindness to make it through each day,” she said.
Another resident, Sekuru Jonathan Namate added that their wish is to have all the challenges that the home is grappling with addressed.
“What we have here is a blessing, but it is not enough. The home does its best, but the burden is heavy. We hope more people will come forward to help us live our remaining days in peace and ensure that we get a befitting burial when we die,” he said.
