Chinotimba residents in Victoria Falls had an unexpected gift last Friday after Buhera legislator Joseph Chinotimba bought all the opaque beer at the local beer garden and gave it to revellers to drink for free.
Richard Muponde Senior Reporter
The legislator had an unconventional explanation for his generosity, saying he wanted to appease his great grandfather after whom he claims the suburb is named, so accidents would not occur in Chinotimba.
The gesture comes two months after scores of patrons were seriously injured when a beer garden collapsed on them.
Chinotimba bought about 200 cases of opaque beer, which revellers drank until the early hours.
The legislator also officiated at the official opening of Chinotimba Primary School, an institution to which he donated 1 000 litres of paint.
Chinotimba’s benevolence, seemingly without bounds, saw him “adopt” 24 pupils at the school, pledging to pay their fees until they completed Grade 7.
The pupils are in different grades and are said to have had difficulties in paying fees.
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Contacted for comment yesterday, Chinotimba who is in the resort town with other legislators for a parliamentary pre-budget conference, confirmed the reports.
“The people of Victoria Falls are very happy,” he said.
“Everyone is talking about Chinotimba (himself), wherever you go here.
“Remember I donated paint for the school and it was painted and I officially opened it on Friday where about 2 000 people attended.”
Chinotimba said he had time to dance with beer patrons at Chinotimba beer garden.
“I, together with other MPs, bought them 200 cases of opaque beer,” he said.
“I have agreed with the mayor (Sifiso Mpofu) that they lawfully give us a stand here, so that every November we come here as a family and appease our ancestor,” he said.
“You remember recently the beer hall collapsed and injured people. We don’t want to have such accidents again, it could be that our ancestor is angry that we don’t appease him.”
Chinotimba said through the Chinotimba Trust he would see that the welfare of the people of the suburb was his priority.
“Last time they had problems of water and I, together with the mayor went to see (Local Government) minister Ignatius) Chombo and talked to him so that Victoria Falls treats its own water rather than wait for Zinwa (Zimbabwe National Water Authority),” he said.
Chinotimba said his great grandfather drove the chariot in which missionary David Livingstone travelled in, leading to the suburb being named after him.
