The Sunday News
Ndlovu Nonsikelelo, Sunday News Reporter
TEN widows in Bulawayo’s Makokoba high-density suburb yesterday received an early Mothers’ Day delight when Zanu-PF’s Women’s League in the city showered them with food hampers.
The elderly widows received groceries that included mealie-meal, sugar, rice, macaroni, salt and bathing soap.
Zanu-PF Bulawayo Women`s League chair Cde Marvelous Shariah Ali said they were targeting the most vulnerable mothers in Bulawayo’s oldest suburb.
“It’s Mother’s Day weekend, hence our targets are 10 identified elderly women who are less privileged and widows from Mzilikazi-Makokoba suburb. Last Thursday we donated food hampers to 50 families, including child-headed families,” she said.
Cde Ali said the food hampers were being handed out to beneficiaries regardless of their political affiliation.
“We did not select the beneficiaries, we got the names from the Social Welfare Department in Mzilikazi. This was not an exercise targeting Zanu-PF women, it was for all vulnerable and elderly widows,” said Cde Ali.
Bulawayo women’s league secretary-general Cde Caroline Tongani said the elderly people from Makokoba, were among the most affected by economic hardships brought about by Covid-19.
“The elderly widows who are left behind with grandchildren are the most suffering group in this Covid-19 era therefore as Women`s league we make sure that we engage them in their day-to-day lives,” she said.
Gogo Sally Siziba (68) from Makokoba who is one of the beneficiaries was excited by the gesture shown by the Women’s League.
“I’m very happy for the surprise visit and more grateful to the food groceries, you really helped and may the Almighty bless you and as the party supporter all I can say is we want the party to be active and revived for they know about our situation and we are happy for that,” she said.
Emotional Gogo Hilda Ncube (75) and Manama Ncube (86) from Makokoba said they were also grateful.
“It has been more than 20 years since some of our husbands passed away, we are living with our grandchildren. Life has been difficult and sometimes we go to bed hungry. We also do not have money for medication.”
