The Sunday News
Sione Amidu, Sunday News reporter
DESPITE having a disability, Honest Phiri from Vumbachikwe Mine in Gwanda is a hard working young man who makes a living from doing menial jobs.
Phiri, born on 26 August 1998, is the third born in a family of four children. His mother had a normal delivery. However, Phiri delayed developmental milestones such as walking, a feat he achieved at the age of seven. However, because of health problems, he has since dropped out of school.
His family enrolled him for Early Childhood Development classes and grade one at Lushonkwe Primary School. Because he was slow in class, he had to repeat the ECD class twice.
“I delivered Honest at Mafuku Lushonkwe. When he was born he was very small which made me spend a lot of time at the hospital as they thought he was a premature baby. He has hernia, so he delays in everything. He also has a heart problem.
When I used to take him to the hospital they just wrote on his documents using a red pen, but never explained what was wrong with him, later on a nurse referred me to Bulawayo. In Bulawayo he was examined by 10 doctors and had to undergo an operation.
“After some tests it was revealed that his heart was not pumping well, some people had pledged to take him to India for treatment, but that did not happen.
I once took him to Jahunda Primary School but teachers complained saying they cannot take care of him due to his condition, he also shivers,” said his mother Miss Senzeni Siziba.
She said despite his condition, he was able to do manual work.
“Honest is good at doing menial jobs. He does such jobs in the compound but the challenge is that people take advantage of his health condition.
They ask him to work in their homes to clear their yards and even work on the fields but they don’t pay him. I know of five people who still owe him money from last year. We used to have a police officer called Penny who used to help Honest collect his monies, but he was transferred to another place so there is no one to help him.
I appeal for any help from the public and also wish well-wishers to find him a project which he can do because I will not live forever to take care of him. He will need something to keep him busy and also bring income,” she said.
Sifiso Nyoni who is Phiri’s close friend said he was hard working but needed support from the community.
“Ma Onara is a very hard working young man who needs support. When you interact with him he will always be talking about work. I appeal to the Vumbachikwe Mine to find a job which suits his condition like cleaning and housekeeping, since it is what he is good at. He uses the money he gets to buy clothes and offerings at church.”
Nkomwa Foundation Trust pledged to assist Phiri.
“Honest is being encouraged to continue with this fighting spirit. I’m glad he can be engaged for menial jobs for self-sustenance which is very commendable. He never looked down upon himself and he is a source of inspiration to others in the same predicament.
As an organisation, we will ensure we have his contacts and have him in our database. I assure you as an organisation we will do our best for our friend just like the way we do to others,” said the foundation’s director Mr Pick Nkomwa.
