The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
UNITED Kingdom-based former Zimbabwe international rugby player, Elimon “Bedford” Chimbima is fund-raising for his ex-Sables teammate, Zivanai Dzinomurumbi who is hospitalised in Masvingo with a heart problem.
Dzinomurumbi has been admitted to a private health facility in Masvingo since 8 June. Doctors have diagnosed the former Sables backline player with cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the muscular organ to pump blood to the rest of the body.
Cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure.
Chimbima started the fundraiser on 12 June by making a donation of £100. His target is to raise £15 000 and as of yesterday, the contributions from well-wishers the world over stood at £1 655 raised from 26 donors. Chimbima, who played wing, fullback and centre for the Sables indicated that he decided to embark on a fundraiser for Dzinomurumbi after speaking to his ex-teammate’s sister, Tendai Musarurwa who has been looking after him.
“I had spoken to Ziv about two weeks before he went into hospital but he hadn’t mentioned to me his condition only to find out last week. On hearing the news from his sister and the financial challenges involved, I thought it best if I could try and round up ex-team mates and friends around the globe to support and having a Go Fund would enable all these people to support thorough donations to the GoFundMe which is the easiest form to get the monies in one pot and as one currency,’’ Chimbima said.
The strategy is to have the fundraising initiative run until the end of June to try and come up with as much funds to assist Dzinomurumbi. Some of the former Sables players who made contributions on GoFundMe are Jeff Tigere, Tafadzwa Manyimo, Karl Mudzamba and Takura Madamombe.
“Besides being a friend and teammate, rugby on its own is a community and when one is down it’s up to others to lift him and give all necessary support. The plan is to have the GoFundMe running to about end of June so can try and raise as much. We have to consider his immediate position and needs as well.”
ZRU president, Aaron Jani, his two vice-presidents, Martin Shone and Losson Mtongwiza have led the way in local efforts to raise funds to assist the man known as “Super Ziv” during his playing days by making financial contributions. Shone last Saturday visited Dzinomurumbi in hospital. ZRU have also engaged local and South African specialists to help manage his condition. According to ZRU, US$1 600 has been raised locally, with US$300 from that already used to purchase two months’ supply of medication for Dzinomurumba who will rely on medication for the rest of his life.
Musarurwa said her brother has been unwell from 2017 and only saw a cardiologist in 2018 when his situation had worsened. The 54-year-old Dzinomurumbi is still in hospital and started taking his medication last Tuesday.
Meanwhile, three Bulawayo Metropolitan Rugby Football Board office-bearers were recently granted interim relief by the courts in the fight over the control of Hartsfield Rugby Grounds.
Busani Ncube, Thembelani Ncube and George Hlatshwayo were on 29 May granted a Spoliation Order by the Bulawayo Provincial Magistrate Courts. The order is against ZRU and the union’s vice-president South, Martin Shone. It bars ZRU and Shone from taking over ownership of Hartsfield. The parties involved will appear in court again on 29 June for the order to be confirmed as binding or for to be rescinded.
Another case between BMRFB and ZRU is still to be heard at the High Court. BMRFB are challenging ZRU’s decision to dissolve their elected structure and replace it with an interim committee. @Mdawini_29
