Leonard Cheshire, Copota donate wheelchair to Zaka rape victim

Lloyd Shunje

ZAKA – Leonard Cheshire Disability Zimbabwe (LCDZ), through Copota School for the Blind, donated wheelchair to a rape victim in Mahohoma village, Chief Nhema in Zaka last week.

 The wheelchair was officially handed over by Copota Primary School head Simbarashe Manjere who was accompanied by LCDZ Masvingo provincial team led by coordinator Jerad Maguta and Farai Chikwature.

The organisation also assisted the victim by providing legal assistance and the perpetrator was finally brought to book after three years.

The mother (name withheld), who could not hide her joy after the donation, narrated her sad story before she thanked LCDZ for both the legal assistance and the wheelchair donation.

“Life has not been easy for me and my daughter. She was sexually abused in 2013 and for more than three years I was struggling to get legal assistance to nail the perpetrator. I couldn’t move around as the daughter needed my assistance all the time.

“I then met LCDZ team early this year and the case was finally settled at Chiredzi Magistrates Court. I want to thank my neighbours who have been very supportive,” said the mother.

Manjere pledged to continue supporting the girl and encouraged the community, which was represented by the village head Amos Munyuki, to start income generating projects that will help them in future.

Maguta also pledged to assist the girl to start income generating projects and many other children who are living with disability in the area.

“We will work with the girl until she can do many things on her own. We have also donated another wheelchair to Capota pupil who was in the same situation,” said Maguta.news