Moses Ziyambi
The legacy built by renowned
philanthropist and humanist, the late Jairos Jiri is crumbling due to neglect
and failure by authorities to support what he so painstakingly built over many
difficult years.
philanthropist and humanist, the late Jairos Jiri is crumbling due to neglect
and failure by authorities to support what he so painstakingly built over many
difficult years.
Jiri died in 1982, leaving behind
16 centres that housed and trained people with disabilities but the
association’s training centre in Masvingo is crumbling.
16 centres that housed and trained people with disabilities but the
association’s training centre in Masvingo is crumbling.
It has been several weeks since
the institution closed down due to many problems including water shortages
caused by a breakdown of the borehole that supplied water for domestic use and
for agriculture.
the institution closed down due to many problems including water shortages
caused by a breakdown of the borehole that supplied water for domestic use and
for agriculture.
The institution is now manned by
a few care takers but the normal courses in agriculture and other skills for
people with disabilities have ceased due to the myriad of problems being
encountered there.
a few care takers but the normal courses in agriculture and other skills for
people with disabilities have ceased due to the myriad of problems being
encountered there.
Many broken pieces of equipment
lie in the yard, symbolizing the shocking decline of what was once a great
facility which mentored great people like the now late musicians Paul Matavire
and Chamunorwa Nebeta of the Glare Express fame.
lie in the yard, symbolizing the shocking decline of what was once a great
facility which mentored great people like the now late musicians Paul Matavire
and Chamunorwa Nebeta of the Glare Express fame.
A source told TellZim News the
facility was rapidly declining and there was no future for it unless
authorities urgently intervene.
facility was rapidly declining and there was no future for it unless
authorities urgently intervene.
“It’s now an empty shell. Nothing
is happening there. It has been a gradual decline that started long back after
government grants stopped coming or came by fits and starts. Donors are no
longer coming as they used to do because they resent government involvement in
what started as a charitable trust institution started by a private
philanthropist. Jairos Jiri Masvingo is just like Ngomahuru Mental Hospital;
taken over by government and then neglected in the most pressing hour of need,”
said the source.
is happening there. It has been a gradual decline that started long back after
government grants stopped coming or came by fits and starts. Donors are no
longer coming as they used to do because they resent government involvement in
what started as a charitable trust institution started by a private
philanthropist. Jairos Jiri Masvingo is just like Ngomahuru Mental Hospital;
taken over by government and then neglected in the most pressing hour of need,”
said the source.
It also emerged that the problems
were not unique to Jairos Jiri Masvingo as the case was similar throughout the
country where the association has a presence.
were not unique to Jairos Jiri Masvingo as the case was similar throughout the
country where the association has a presence.
TellZim News called Jairos Jiri
Association national director Wilson Ruvere who first insisted that all was
well at the centre before changing tune after being pressed with facts.
Association national director Wilson Ruvere who first insisted that all was
well at the centre before changing tune after being pressed with facts.
“There was a storm which wrecked
the water tanks and we don’t have water there. We are running around looking
for help so that we can resuscitate operations possibly in January 2020. We can’t
operate without water,” said Ruvere.
the water tanks and we don’t have water there. We are running around looking
for help so that we can resuscitate operations possibly in January 2020. We can’t
operate without water,” said Ruvere.
