Brighton Chiseva
MASVINGO – Masvingo Association of Residential Care Facilities in partnership with the Reformed Church University (RCU) recently donated a special wheel chair to 17 year old Tinashe Mabika.
The donation came as a life saver to Mabika’s mother Edith Mugabe who endured the brunt of carrying his son for the past 17 years as the boy cannot do anything himself alone.
Speaking at the handover ceremony held at the university’s main campus, MARCFT, Director Zendakwaye Zendakwaye said as an organization, they heard about the boy’s plight, sought for help since he required a special wheelchair that resonates with his physical wellbeing.
“We appealed for help since Tinashe needed a special wheelchair which suit his stature, he had never had a wheelchair in his life and that limited his mother’s movement since he had to carry him and could not leave him for a long time,”
RCU provided the money needed for the special wheel chair. However, when we were looking for help, we managed to get another ordinary wheelchair and we are giving it to him to use as a spare,” said Zendakwaye
He went on to say they also got crutches from another organization and they were going to hand them to the needy members.
“Another organization which specializes on crutches s gave us 20 pairs, so we have a list of beneficiaries and some of them are here and some could not make it due to logistical challenges,” said Zendakwaye
Speaking at the same event, RCU Vice Chancellor Professor Emmanuel Dumbu said as an institution they felt urged by the old adage which says it takes a village to raise a child and saw it fit to donate.
“There is an old adage which says IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD’, and the question now is, what is that village? It’s simply the community, our community and yours. It’s me and you. As Reformed Church University, we contemplated and felt the urge to donate towards the physio-prescribed wheelchair for Tinashe Mabika.
The RCU is actively working hard to address issues that the people living with disabilities may face. As a university, we have various initiatives and support structures in place to ensure that those people living with disabilities get help for them to fit into the society,”
This is not the first time RCU doing such a philanthropic gesture. In 2021, one of the ECD students deployed at Chimedza Primary School sourced two wheelchairs with the help of the Inclusivity Directorate of the RCU. The wheelchairs were donated to the learners with disabilities at Chimedza School in Zaka,” said Professor Dumbu
He said the wheelchair allows for mobility and hence brings relief to the boy’s mother who had to carry him everywhere limiting her chances of working to provide for his family.
“The wheelchair is one of the most commonly used assistive devices to promote mobility and enhance quality of life for people who have difficulties in walking. Wheelchair mobility opens up opportunities for wheelchair users to study, work, and engage in social activities and access services such as healthcare. We saw the need, so we are here to hand over this wheelchair and help relieve Mrs. Mabika from carrying Tinashe everywhere,” he said
After being handed over the wheelchair, Mugabe failed to hold her tears back, she said she had been relieved a lot because she is now able to easily go around and do her menial jobs with his son whom he could not leave at home for a long time.
“I am happy now that I cannot endure the trouble of carrying my son as I have been doing from the past 17 years. I can now go anywhere I need with him and I can now easily do my work to feed him and his siblings,” said Mugabe
She went on to say her wish was to get some money to boost her poultry project so that she can put food on the table for her family and pay fees for other children.
“I need money so that I boost my small poultry project and stop looking for menial jobs because my son’s situation requires me to be close to him every time,” she said.
Tinashe has a rare condition which makes her look like a six or seven year old despite his age. He cannot talk, walk or feed on his own. He requires diapers despite his age, a situation that makes it hard for his mother to leave him for some time alone.
Mugabe can be contacted on 0771338140.
