Diaspora-based Zimbabweans: A tale of desperation as many succumb to Covid-19

26 Apr, 2020 - 00:04 0 Views
Diaspora-based Zimbabweans: A tale of desperation as many succumb to Covid-19

The Sunday News

Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
LEAVING Zimbabwe in search of greener pastures saw multitudes of the country’s citizens skipping borders where they hoped to earn a decent living and sustain those back home.

A number are enrolled in caregiving work abroad where they care for the elderly and do other jobs while sending siblings and children to school back home.

However, in the wake of coronavirus, things are taking a turn for the worse for some Zimbabweans who are based in the United Kingdom, France, China and other countries where people are dying in their thousands every day. Zimbabweans living in those countries have not been spared.

In recent weeks several people have succumbed to the virus, with reports that five Zimbabweans have died in the UK alone. Reverend Cleopas Sibanda, the National Chaplain Methodist Church in Zimbabwe Fellowship in United Kingdom expressed sadness at the situation that Covid-19 has brought to the Zimbabwean community living in the UK.

“Covid-19 has affected a lot of people in the UK. We have a number of Zimbabweans who contracted the virus. The sad thing is that relatives cannot visit them and hence they are lonely and stressed.

Some have been fortunate enough to recover from this pandemic but sadly some have succumbed to it. Following restrictions on hospital visits aimed at reducing the spread of this virus, patients die in the hands of health care providers without any relatives present.
Relatives at home suffer from anxiety of not being able to see or talk to their loved ones in hospital, worse still if they die, the trauma and pain are unbearable, there will be no closure,” he said.

This is a first not only for Africans, but all cultures who observe death as an important part of human life with one deserving a decent burial and even the final moments of one’s life in the presence of those close to them.

Death in the past few weeks has been happening either when people are in solitary confinement or in the presence of a few strangers in hospital.

“Due to social distancing, there is no physical or moral support from the social support system. This is coupled with restrictions on the number of people who are allowed to attend the funeral,” said Rev Sibanda.

Mr Mthokozisi Sibanda who is based in the UK also concurred with Rev Sibanda saying they can no longer gather when they lose one of their own.

“Usually we would go and hold night vigils while we wait for the body of the deceased to be taken back home in Zimbabwe. We would also contribute money to assist in the repatriations. But now we cannot even go and console our fellow countrymen who would have lost loved ones to the virus. It is a sad moment for us here. We can only phone each other,” he said.

A large number of Zimbabweans are dependent on their diaspora-based relatives for income and with millions signing up for unemployment in the UK, it paints a sad story for the survival of many Zimbabweans.

“The lockdown has affected the working patterns of most of the working class hence posing a challenge in their incomes. Those who depend on their diaspora relatives for support may be affected by these changes,” lamented Rev Sibanda.

Gogo Maria Mlambo and her husband Kenny who reside in Bulawayo said they were living off their grandchildren based overseas and were worried that they might face challenges should they lose their jobs due to the effects of the coronavirus on the world economy. Rev Sibanda further said as a way of mourning with their fellow congregants, they were now turning to social media.

“We now conduct virtual services using social media to pray with the ill and to comfort the bereaved. Covid-19 should be taken seriously and we must follow guidelines. If we all abide by the guidelines we will overcome this pandemic. We need to stay in prayer,” he said.

Two weeks ago, Dr Paul Matewele who was a senior lecturer in microbiology immunology at London Metropolitan University died from the novel coronavirus. Accountant Mr Gardner Madzongo and a health worker Sikhanyisiwe Kaziboni are reported to have also died from the virus in the UK. Former Zapu treasurer of the UK chapter Naison Mgatsho Msebele succumbed to the virus too.

Renew church in Uttoxeter England posted on social media about the death of their member Ms Rutendo Mukotsanjera from Zimbabwe who was a public health officer and human rights activist in Staffordshire. She is survived by her daughter Chiedza who is 12 years old.

“We got news about Rutendo, we thank everyone for their prayers. I got a text that Rutendo had died, they tried all they could and they put her on a ventilator but her organs failed.

“There was nothing more they could do. Rutendo was a single mother, she was 45 years old and there are not many family members around and as a church we have taken in Chichi her daughter and we will do all we can to help her.

“She is 12 years old and they have no real family out here,” said Pastor Matthew Murray in an emotional Facebook post. The pastor said funeral arrangements were done with the help of Zimbabweans in the UK. A fund has been set up to raise funds to assist the child left behind by Rutendo.

Another United Kingdom-based Zimbabwean nurse, Felicity Siyachitema, last week succumbed to Covid-19 at Southend Hospital in London.

She was 51.

Family spokesperson, Mr Frederick Siyachitema, told our sister paper, The Herald that said her sister went to the United Kingdom in 2002.

“Yes, a dark cloud has befallen our family. Fellie passed away in a London hospital where she was admitted. We are in pain as a family. She was a strong woman, who was always supportive of her family. She was a helpful person, a hard worker, a mother and a dedicated nurse.”

The Zimbabwean Embassy in London has said at least 29 Zimbabweans living in Britain have died of Covid-19, mostly nurses and other medical staff.

The pandemic has so far killed at least 18 738 in Britain, while in Zimbabwe four have died. Britain is one of the countries hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a statement, the Embassy said while it had no official figures it “has been able to gather information from the Diaspora community and religious leaders, cluster leaders, affected individuals and the media, on Zimbabweans who have passed on due to Covid-19.”

Explaining the lack of official figures, the Embassy said: “To date, the Embassy has not received updated information from the host Government on the deaths of Zimbabweans due to Covid-19, understandably because the British government has explained that it is currently seized with implementing measures to contain the pandemic. They have promised to provide detailed information as soon as it is possible.”

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