The Sunday News
Peter Matika Senior Leisure Reporter
WHILE many people would struggle to cope with life in the event of suffering physical disability, it is a different story for former Highlanders Rugby Club player Lameck Kasuka, who is wheelchair bound and has marked 25 years living in a hospital. Kasuka, who suffered a spinal injury during a training session, has spent the past 25 years at the United Bulawayo Hospitals’ Bartley Memorial Block, where he has been cared for by staff, who he describes as his family.
He has lived there since his injury on 25 January 1990 at a practice session for Highlanders Rugby Club at Hartsfield Rugby Ground.
He said it was easier and less cumbersome in hospital than at home as he could receive all the care he needed.
He turns 48 on 10 March.
“I do have a home in Luveve but being here is like home, as I can get all the necessary care I need. At home it would have been problematic since everyone would be at work and there was less space for me to manoeuvre. The club also sorted out my permanent living arrangements here with the Government,” he said.
Since his injury his body has been in a paralytic state, with only his right arm functional.
He spoke of his joys and tribulations.
“To be honest it has been a bumpy road. It hasn’t been easy but I have managed to accept who I am. In life we meet lots of different people and we have to accommodate them for the sake of getting along.
“If it wasn’t for the support I have received from my family and friends I really don’t know where or what I would have been. Because of their company I don’t experience loneliness whatsoever. If you are in a situation like mine you definitely need time to recover,” he said.
Kasuka also spoke of how he had managed to keep himself occupied and has also developed money generating projects that keep his wallet warm.
“There are a few things that I do here and there to at least keep me busy and also give me some pocket money. I run a little photocopying and typing business here, which assists me with a few things that I need in case my friends or family are unable to provide,” he said.
Kasuka said on the serious side of business he has established a foundation that catered for the less fortunate and needy.
“I have a foundation which I established years ago. I, however, am working towards restructuring it, as I was the one doing most of the work. I need to have people that are actively involved, as you never know with humans anything may happen. There are two other projects I am working on this year, one of them being breast cancer awareness in October and health outreach programmes for the elderly and young in the western suburbs,” said Kasuka.
On the sports side of things, he said he would host his annual LAMSUKA western schools’ rugby tournament.
“The tournament particularly pays interest to western schools rugby development, since that is where I am from. Last year the tournament took a sabbatical due to reasons that were beyond my control. After the tournament I plan on hosting a modelling competition but at the present moment I am still working on logistics for the event,” he said.
Kasuka also said since his injury he had not quite gotten the platform to talk to people about how to overcome tribulations they would be faced with.
“I have started giving motivational talks in schools and hope to have an even bigger platform. This is the first time that I have been able to talk to people and actually give some counselling words,” he said.
Before his injury Kasuka was blessed with a child — Patience – who has since blossomed into a woman and is now married.
“Although her mother and I couldn’t be together I am grateful for my daughter,” he said.
