The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
“GOD takes care of our day-to-day needs,” says Gogo Thuke Dube (74) as she points to the sky, tears welling up in her eyes explaining how she does not know where their next meal will come from.
Gogo Dube and her aged husband Mr Armando Dube have no form of income and depend on the benevolence of a neighbour’s daughter who shares the little she has with them.
Sunday News caught up with the couple that stays in Nkulumane, Bulawayo as they were limping home from the local clinic where Mr Dube had gone for a medical check-up. Sadly, Mr Dube was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer that still needs confirmation via a computed tomography (CT) scan which he can never imagine affording. Miss Shiellah Rateyiwa who lives adjacent to the Dubes’ home, was touched by their deteriorating state of well-being and decided to help them seek medical assistance.
Miss Shiellah Rateyiwa
“We have been staying in the neighbourhood with the Dubes from as far back as early 1980s and sadly they never had any children of their own. We have seen the struggles that they go through, they are both illiterate which saw them not getting any formal jobs but did odd jobs for people.
“Mr Dube is originally from Mozambique and has no relatives locally who can assist him as he left his country there more than 65 years ago, gogo on the other hand left Tsholotsho when she was also young and has lost contact with her relatives and has no chance of going back. The two have no income and they can no longer be hired to do odd jobs because of their ages and frail health. They have no income and support from anyone. All they have are community members who help from time to time. Gogo used to sell vegetables from her small garden but can no longer do that anymore because of her age,” narrated Miss Rateyiwa.
A neighbour assists Mr Dube to cross a road
She said the challenge now was that Mr Dube was diagnosed with prostate cancer and could no longer control the flow of urine.
“Because of water cuts in the city Gogo Dube cannot go and fetch water from the local borehole so that she washes clothes and linen for her husband and depends on community members who often come and fetch water for her.
“We need people who can assist in fetching water every day for the couple because khulu’s condition is serious, he needs to be in a clean and dry environment always. The medication is also very vital, but we need to first get CT scan done and then treatment commences. The cost of treatment is very high too and we have no idea how this will be done as there is no one to assist as it is all pegged in United States dollars,” said Miss Rateyiwa.
Mrs Dube lighting a fire
She added, “Before my mother passed away three weeks ago she would assist with all she could as she acted as their guardian so I have taken it upon myself to also continue aiding them so that at least they get something to eat when I am here as I will be in Gweru most of the time.
At this age it is hard to be without anyone, I am appealing for medical aid for khulu as he cannot do anything for himself. I have consulted the local councillor and he promised to look into the matter although he hasn’t brought any feedback.
“I am hoping to get aid in the form of toiletries, food, linen and medical assistance. If he could also get diapers it will be better as gogo cannot keep up with washing linen every day and fetching water. Gogo cannot carry him in and out of the house for him to get fresh air on days that he is ill and cannot walk,” she added.
She said a neighbour who had visited them recently found them both lying on the floor as Gogo Dube had fallen while trying to carry her husband outside. She then decided to assist then in some chores.
“I came here last week and found them lying on the floor. I then decided to come and assist by doing some chores for them, like today I came and cleaned the house, made some breakfast and fetched water and now we are from the clinic where khulu had gone to seek treatment,” said Ms Evelyn Sibanda.
Gogo Dube uses firewood to do the cooking although she gets assistance in electricity tokens from well-wishers in the community.
“Now the challenge is that people in the community are also facing challenges and cannot adequately provide for the couple,” she lamented.
Gogo Dube said she needed some help as she has no family to aid her.
“We need food, we need to pay utilities, ngiphila ngokuthengisa inhlabathi, njengoba ubona umuntu kamlimu enje (I used to survive from selling edible sand, as you can see his hand is like this). He last worked the first two years Nkulumane was built, and when this area was built around 1982. I have been suffering with him, ngiphila ngoMlimu (we survive by the grace of God),” she said with eyes bleary with tears, pointing at her husband’s hand which was paralysed after suffering a stroke.
“I do not have anything, as for today I am glad these neighbours have brought mealie-meal and relish, that is the God I was talking about that I depend on, nguye ogcina umphefumulo wethu lapha (He is the one keeping us alive),” she added.
However, neighbours said the issue of the prostate cancer started last year but due to Gogo Dube’s religious beliefs, she didn’t want to seek medical attention and they had to force them to go to a hospital as Mr Dube was no longer able to walk.
Other neighbours said the department of social welfare must consider cases like that of the Dubes and render their support as they were being left out in food and grain distribution. However, as testimony to the vows Gogo Dube made when they got married decades ago, gogo has not abandoned her ailing husband who needs palliative care but has stood by his side through the years without the slightest idea on how she will feed him.
