MASVINGO-GOSPEL musician Mathias Mhere and dendera maestro Sulumani Chimbetu have given a Chivi widow, looking after seven orphaned children, a timely boost after donating building materials worth thousands of dollars for the construction of a three-roomed house.
Tatenda Chitagu Own Correspondent
The musicians, who pledged to build the house as well as a round hut, sourced the materials together with Chivi Rural District Council chair Killer Zivhu. The materials include bricks, cement, doors, door frames, roofing materials and fencing wire.
The widow, Elizabeth Sithole, from Chivi North in Madyangove village, would be saved from the biting chilly weather as her cracked structures had roofs falling in and had no doors.
She also had no toilet at her homestead. Speaking at the handover ceremony, Sithole said the donation came in handy as she is unemployed, but looking after orphaned grandchildren.
“I do not know how to thank you,” she said as tears of joy streamed down. But your donation came at no other better time than this. This is really a dream come true for me. I did not ever imagine myself staying in a cement house roofed with sheets. All I have ever known in my life is this grass-thatched house,” she said.
Zivhu said the council engaged musicians to come to the aid of the less fortunate members of the community in the area. He said the council consulted the councillor for the area who identified the most deserving member, with nowhere or no-one to turn to.
“We are targeting the less fortunate and underprivileged members of society. In this instance, we consulted the councillor and village heads that chose this lady. As you can see, she has been stalked by poverty, but we decided to build her proper shelter here,” Zivhu said.
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He said under the initiative, musicians will hold a charity Gala at Mucheke Stadium on the 28th of this month where they intend to raise more money to construct 11 other houses for the less-privileged members in Chivi. Mhere said as a gospel musician, he was giving back to the community.
“The Bible says ‘Blessed is the hand that giveth’. So we bought the idea that the Chivi Council sold to us and we hope to make a difference in lives of the have-nots,” he said.
The fundraising gala will feature Botswana-based musician Slizer, Jah Prayzar as well as other local musicians.
