
Leonard Ncube
WHILE Victoria Falls is known for its breathtaking beauty of nature and the hum of life that promotes tourism along the Zambezi River, Chinotimba Old People’s Home (COPH) in the city stands tall as a beacon of hope and dignity for the elderly.
The home was opened in the late 1970s and is run by the Chinotimba Association for the Destitute and Aged (Chada) supported by the Victoria Falls City Council and the Department of Social Welfare.
Nestled in the heart of the city, COPH, with 10 inmates, is a beacon of hope, a source of care for the elderly, offering them a humble sanctuary, peaceful refuge and a place where age is celebrated and dignity and human rights preserved.
At COPH, the elderly are not only simply cared for — they are cherished, surrounded by a tight-knit community that values the wisdom and stories of those who have lived through generations of change, and survived some human rights abuses.
In a world where the elderly can sometimes feel forgotten, COPH represents a model of compassion, where love, respect, and the warmth of human connection make every day a meaningful one, a place where the elderly are empowered to age with grace.
This is thanks to a cross-section of the Victoria Falls community that has taken it upon itself to provide for the day-to-day needs of the home.
Housing is the basis of stability and security for any individual or family, a centre of our social, emotional and sometimes economic lives and a sanctuary — a place to live in peace, security and dignity.

Mrs Chindedza shows a tray that was once used as a rickshaw to carry bodies
It should not be a commodity but a human right — not having to worry about being evicted and having access to appropriate services, as enshrined in international law.
This became the basis for establishment of COPH, known to locals as Sipanda Ward, a corruption of the Nyanja/Chewa phrase “Kopanda Hodi” which means “enter freely”.
It started as an informal refugee shelter for victims of war and migrants from different Southern African countries such as Angola, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania, where they gathered upon arrival in Zimbabwe.
Colonialists and slave traders would raid the place and round up slaves who they would take to farms and mines.
Inside two old buildings are iron bars where those taken into slavery were tied to avoid escape before they could be transported to their forced destinations.
COPH at some point had more than 100 people including children, fleeing wars and conflict, family disintegration, unemployment and other migration drivers.
Some were taken into slavery on farms and mines and some returned after being set free or escaping.
The home invokes nostalgic memories of the slave trade and human rights abuses that took place during the colonial era.
From overcrowding, to feeding from the rubbish bins and dumpsites, the place was once a death trap as many people died from consuming stale foodstuffs they picked from hotel bins. They would cook or dry the food which they sometimes sold to unsuspecting residents.
Chada officials said the place had an offensive smell at the time, while many occupants died due to diseases associated with consuming contaminated food.
The biggest nightmare was on burial of these people until about 10 years ago when the local tourism industry, under the banner of Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe, and some individual companies adopted some of the needs, and brought in Nyaradzo Funeral Services with a funeral policy for all inmates for decent burials.
Burial of one of the inmates, Gogo Swelekile Maphosa, who died on 28 October 2024, just 30 days before her 112th birthday was memorable because of the support given by the community.
She had lived at the home since 1999 when she was ushered in as a blind poor woman and with the help of HAZ, she was assisted to undergo eye surgery in Livingstone, Zambia and regained her eyesight.
From the coffin and hearse, to a church and funeral service attended by scores of people, Gogo Maphosa’s burial was a sharp contrast from the previous somewhat inhumane burials, where the deceased would be wrapped in blankets and carried by four people across the suburb to the cemetery.
This not only undermined human dignity but also exposed African values on respect for the dead.
Some individuals — Enock Sibanda, Edward Zumbika, Chris Mbhoyi Sibanda, Johannes Munsaka, Lenias Sibanda, Aleck Sibanda, Goodbye Chikwengera, Petris Shava, Washington Sansole, Andrew Mawana and others — decided to end the inhumanity and formed a board which registered COPH on 11 November 1979.
Churches started conducting services to give hope to inmates.
As time passed, some board members died and now the board comprises Mrs Neddy Chindedza, Ms Evelyn Nyathi and Mr James Nyoni, and a few supporting staff.
According to the United Nations Human Rights Commission, more than 1,8 billion people live in informal settlements or squalid conditions with limited access to essential services such as water, sanitation and electricity, and are under threat of forced eviction into homelessness, one of the most severe violations of the right to adequate housing, provided for in Article 25 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 11.1 of the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which many countries are signatory to.
The elderly are given the right to choose and freedom of movement as they can visit friends.
Burial and living conditions have improved, in accordance with the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Zimbabwe has adopted some treaties such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Like many other countries, Zimbabwe adopted the Principles for Older Persons, Resolution 46/91 by the General Assembly in 1991 and the Madrid International Plan on Ageing which requires member states to provide social protection to the elderly, hence the creation of Old People’s Homes.
The homes are co-operated by private voluntary players, local authorities and the Department of Social Welfare.
There are over 80 old people’s homes in Zimbabwe with over 2 000 inmates.
According to ZimStat, Zimbabwe’s population was 15 178 979 in 2022 of which 7 289 558 (48 percent) were male and 7 889 421 (52 percent) female, giving a sex ratio of 92 males for every 100 females.
Those above 65 years are only 4,52 percent of the total population.
To show commitment, Zimbabwe set-up the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, one of the Chapter 12 institutions in the Constitution for promotion and protection of fundamental rights.
In line with the Right to Religious Freedom enshrined in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, inmates are given freedom of worship and to attend a church of their choice, hence Gogo Maphosa was buried by the Roman Catholic Church.
“People would die because of the conditions. We carried the whole burden and males would prepare the male deceased and the same applied if the person was a woman. We would wrap the body in a blanket before the four of us would carry it using a wheeled rickshaw to the cemetery.
“We would be singing along the way and when we got there we would bury it on our own. We would request some able bodied inmates to dig the grave for us. So we have many that were buried in the manner, including homeless people who would be picked on the streets and the community expected us to bury them,” said Ms Nyathi, the Chada chairperson.
Chada’s treasurer Mrs Chindedza added: “We suffered but because of our cultural values, we had to do it and face situations head-on. We would just wrap the body in a blanket unlike now when we have the luxury of gathering crowds and making speeches. As women we would pull the stretcher cart while men pushed at the back to the cemetery while singing ‘Hamba nhliziyo yami’ all the way to the cemetery.”
She said Chada was grateful to HAZ and Nyaradzo Funeral Services for funeral cover.
“HAZ helped us get funeral cover from Nyaradzo and since 2015 we have a funeral policy that covers the home for decent burials. The Victoria Falls City Council gives us gravel free of charge,” said Mrs Chindedza.
Ms Nyathi said the Roman Catholic Church’s Franciscan Sisters built the hall in the 1980s while the Rotary Club of Victoria Falls constructed ablution facilities.
The Victoria Falls City Council built dormitories while the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority renovated a house.
Several other tourism operators have done different kinds of jobs including installing water tanks, buying furniture, providing gas, and building a clinic which is, however, yet to be furnished.
Help Age Zimbabwe also helped renovate one of the buildings.
Some bikers paved the driveway from the gate to the hall making life easier for the elderly on wheelchairs who were struggling to wheel around.
Even vehicles can now drive smoothly off the sand within the yard.
Living for 100 years is a precious gift, a rarity and a blessing that is enjoyed by a few globally.
In the modern era, the number of individuals reaching a century is scarce, a sharp contrast to the times depicted in the Bible when centenarians were many.
Methuselah, Noah’s grandfather, stood as a testament to extraordinary longevity, living for a staggering 969 years.
The first human, Adam, destined for eternal life, saw his existence come to a close at the age of 930.
The Bible talks of many people that lived for more than 100 years and these include Sarah, the wife of Abraham, who died at the age of 127 years.
In the heart of this narrative lies the venerable Gogo Maphosa, who died just 30 days short of her 112th birthday.
Ms Easter Mpofu (92) is one of the inmates who has spent 23 years at the home after being dumped by her family after accusations of witchcraft.
She enjoys the peace at the COPH.
Mr Jimmy Ndlovu (82) from Nkayi joined the home recently after being abandoned by his family.
Dr Fungayi Musinami, Hwange District Medical Officer, said without proper care, such cases may lead to depression and death.
Despite age and confinement to an old people’s home, the elderly need privacy, said Mrs Chindedza.
“We need more private houses because some fall in love and need their space. Getting old doesn’t mean they don’t fall in love, they also enjoy life. We had a couple of Anna Kawundu and Joseph (both late) who dated and later wedded here at the home,” she said.
COPH complements the Second Republic’s National Development Strategy (NDS1) through provision of affordable and quality housing, health and well-being and social protection for the elderly.
This enhances attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS), particularly ending poverty in all its forms, ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all, as well as promoting inclusive societies with access to justice for all.
COPH gets income from some individuals, churches and chicken farmers that rent on some properties within the home.
An onsite clinic built by stakeholders is yet to be furnished hence the elderly remain with no access to on-site health services. With a clinic, COPH would have a resident nurse and scheduled visits by doctors.
The local authority gave a mandate to Chada to run the home and gives it a monthly stipend while also carrying out maintenance work. —@ncubeleon