News / National
Bank asks bed-ridden granny to come in person to withdraw $20 Govt stipend
09 Jul 2011 at 09:32hrs | Views
A Manicaland bank is reportedly refusing to let go a $20 Government monthly stipend for bed-ridden Mbuya Ngazvirekwe Tangwena, wife of the late national hero Rekayi Tangwena, insisting that the widow, should come to collect the money in person, Manica Post reported on Wednesday.
The ailing Mbuya Tangwena, who is no longer able to walk is struggling to make ends meet and is virtually surviving from hand to mouth, while some of her grandchildren are allegedly using her name to line their pockets.
She does not know her age, but believes she is now over 90 years and is staying with her widowed daughter, Joyce at Ngurunda area of Nyanga District. The two's situation is so dire and Joyce's kitchen hut is also Mbuya Tangwena's bedroom. Her bedding is made of rags and at times she has to go with a single meal a day. The Manica Post visited the Ngurunda area last weekend and from the Nyanga-Nyafaro Road, there is a distance of about 5km on the rugged terrain to the Chekwa homestead.
Mbuya Tangwena has to travel the 5 km to access transport to other part of the country. She is either carried in a wheelbarrow or a neighbour, Letwin Chekwa carries her on her back to and from the road.
"Although I am receiving a stipend of $20 from the Government, this is not enough to meet my medical bills and even buy food. To make matters worse, I last received the money three months ago and the person I send to collect the money at the bank always comes back empty-handed saying the bank officials had asked me to come in person.
I am sure if they see and my condition, they might understand why I am sending someone. With my illness, I cannot make it there and I am just waiting for my fate here,'' she told The Manica Post, adding she did not remember the name of the bank.Reached for comment on Mbuya Tangwena's condition, Zanu-PF National Secretary for Administration, Didymus Mutasa, said all widows of national heroes were being assisted by the State.
"I have heard what you are saying that Mbuya Tangwena is struggling to make ends meet, but for me to have a proper comment I need to go to Nyafaro and see the prevailing situation on the ground. The State built them a house at Nyafaro and if you are saying she is now staying with her daughter, it means she left the house I am talking about.
"Mbuya has a lot of grandchildren who can be ripping her off. Only the widows and minor children below 18 are supposed to benefit from State assistance and not everyone else. We should understand the true position on the ground because some people can capitalise on Mbuya's situation to line up their pockets," said Mutasa.
Mutasa said Mbuya Tangwena had a meeting with President Mugabe in his presence where she was given some money from the President's personal coffers. She had highlighted her plight to President Mugabe.
"I was there when she came to Harare with one of her grandchildren. Although I can not tell the actual figure of the money she received from President Mugabe, it was quite a substantial amount," he said referring The Manica Post to Dr Sydney Sekeramayi who is in charge of the welfare of national heroes' widows.
Efforts to get a comment from Sekeramayi were fruitless at the time of going to Press as his mobile number was not reachable.
In an interview, Mbuya Tangwena, who still has a vivid memory of the horrors she went through during the liberation struggle also confirmed that she had received money from President Mugabe and Mutasa.
She was, however, not sure of the actual amount saying her grandchild in Harare had received the money on her behalf.
"I met President Mugabe and he gave me money from his personal pocket, the same with Didymus Mutasa. I can't remember the actual figures that I received, but I was in the company of my grandson when I met the two. These are the only people who have helped me so far.
"Mbuya Tangwena haasisina kana shiro (chinhu), haachagoni kuita kana chinhu. Rekayi knows that we are suffering wherever he is. If I had sugar, I could have even made a sugar solution for you my grandsons, but there is nothing I can give you. It is not in us as Africans to let visitors go empty-handed," she said.
She said her life took a dramatic turn after the death of her husband in 1984.
"We are struggling to get relish for sadza and I do not even know when I last had a cup of tea. What I need is decent shelter, at least a house near a health facility so that I can be attended to easily. My legs and back are very painful and walking is the biggest problem," she said.
Mbuya Tangwena said she was desperate for clothes and blankets especially in this cold weather.
"My daughter is trying her level best, but the death of her husband about seven years ago also spelt doom for us. My late son-in-law tried his level best to make us comfortable, but God took him away, leaving us the two widows to fend for ourselves. My daughter also has a problem in walking after she was injured while trying to run away from the Rhodesian Forces who gave us a torrid time during the liberation struggle.
"I lost virtually everything during the struggle. To think that we used to have a lot of cattle that were taken by the Smith regime is very painful because if we still had them they could be of great assistance," she said.
Her grandson, Magodo Tangwena named after her late husband is also deeply concerned with the condition her grandmother is.
"To imagine that Mbuya scarified a lot during the struggle and the sorry state in which she is now is a bitter pill for us to swallow. Something should be done as a matter of urgency.
"We are also disturbed that some people are good at making empty promises, which they will never fulfill. Some people are even using the Tangwena name for their own benefit. There is an orphanage using our grandfather's name in Nyanga and we were never consulted about it," said Magodo Tangwena.
During the farm mechanisation programme, Mbuya Tangwena received an ox-drawn plough and some of the promised things like a knap-sprayer and harrow are still to be availed.
"At one time I was promised a car and a tractor, but they never materialised. Maybe one day someone will surprise us with the promised car, tractor and goods," she said.
Having heard the plight of Mbuya Tangwena, the Zanu-PF provincial leadership mobilised groceries for her, which were donated by Mupfumi Commuters.
The grocery, which include 12x500ml of cooking oil, 10kgs of sugar, 6x2l Mazoe Orange drink, 20kgs rice, 12x750g Dolphin soap, 5kgs Sunrise flour, 2kgs dried kapenta, 10x50g Tanganda tea leaves, 12x200g Palmolive bath soap, 10x10, 24x6x400g Chiyedza candles and a dozen of bread.
The goods were handed over last Saturday night by the party's deputy provincial secretary for information and publicity, Charles Samuriwo. Zanu-PF provincial chairman, Mike Madiro, said the initiative to look into the plight of widows of heroes was mooted by the provincial executive.
"We deliberated as the provincial executive to look into the plight of widows of our heroes. We agreed to send a team to look into their needs so that we can move in to support them. These widows played a critical role during the struggle as they stood by their husbands through thick and thin. They also endured a lot of hardships in trying to defend the gains of the liberation struggle after independence.
"We appreciate their contributions. We will not end with Mbuya Tangwena. There is also Mbuya Chitepo who always carries buckets of water whenever she visits her Bonda rural home because there is no water.
"We are engaging the relevant authorities to ensure that a borehole is sunk at her Bonda home. We need to ensure that the widows and other living heroes like Morton Malianga are looked after. We should not celebrate the life of heroes after their death," he said.
Madiro also implored on young Zimbabweans to also contribute towards the welfare of the widows and living heroes.
"We should show our appreciation as Zimbabweans for the sacrifices made by all those who contributed towards the liberation of this country," said Madiro
The ailing Mbuya Tangwena, who is no longer able to walk is struggling to make ends meet and is virtually surviving from hand to mouth, while some of her grandchildren are allegedly using her name to line their pockets.
She does not know her age, but believes she is now over 90 years and is staying with her widowed daughter, Joyce at Ngurunda area of Nyanga District. The two's situation is so dire and Joyce's kitchen hut is also Mbuya Tangwena's bedroom. Her bedding is made of rags and at times she has to go with a single meal a day. The Manica Post visited the Ngurunda area last weekend and from the Nyanga-Nyafaro Road, there is a distance of about 5km on the rugged terrain to the Chekwa homestead.
Mbuya Tangwena has to travel the 5 km to access transport to other part of the country. She is either carried in a wheelbarrow or a neighbour, Letwin Chekwa carries her on her back to and from the road.
"Although I am receiving a stipend of $20 from the Government, this is not enough to meet my medical bills and even buy food. To make matters worse, I last received the money three months ago and the person I send to collect the money at the bank always comes back empty-handed saying the bank officials had asked me to come in person.
I am sure if they see and my condition, they might understand why I am sending someone. With my illness, I cannot make it there and I am just waiting for my fate here,'' she told The Manica Post, adding she did not remember the name of the bank.Reached for comment on Mbuya Tangwena's condition, Zanu-PF National Secretary for Administration, Didymus Mutasa, said all widows of national heroes were being assisted by the State.
"I have heard what you are saying that Mbuya Tangwena is struggling to make ends meet, but for me to have a proper comment I need to go to Nyafaro and see the prevailing situation on the ground. The State built them a house at Nyafaro and if you are saying she is now staying with her daughter, it means she left the house I am talking about.
"Mbuya has a lot of grandchildren who can be ripping her off. Only the widows and minor children below 18 are supposed to benefit from State assistance and not everyone else. We should understand the true position on the ground because some people can capitalise on Mbuya's situation to line up their pockets," said Mutasa.
Mutasa said Mbuya Tangwena had a meeting with President Mugabe in his presence where she was given some money from the President's personal coffers. She had highlighted her plight to President Mugabe.
"I was there when she came to Harare with one of her grandchildren. Although I can not tell the actual figure of the money she received from President Mugabe, it was quite a substantial amount," he said referring The Manica Post to Dr Sydney Sekeramayi who is in charge of the welfare of national heroes' widows.
Efforts to get a comment from Sekeramayi were fruitless at the time of going to Press as his mobile number was not reachable.
In an interview, Mbuya Tangwena, who still has a vivid memory of the horrors she went through during the liberation struggle also confirmed that she had received money from President Mugabe and Mutasa.
She was, however, not sure of the actual amount saying her grandchild in Harare had received the money on her behalf.
"I met President Mugabe and he gave me money from his personal pocket, the same with Didymus Mutasa. I can't remember the actual figures that I received, but I was in the company of my grandson when I met the two. These are the only people who have helped me so far.
"Mbuya Tangwena haasisina kana shiro (chinhu), haachagoni kuita kana chinhu. Rekayi knows that we are suffering wherever he is. If I had sugar, I could have even made a sugar solution for you my grandsons, but there is nothing I can give you. It is not in us as Africans to let visitors go empty-handed," she said.
She said her life took a dramatic turn after the death of her husband in 1984.
Mbuya Tangwena said she was desperate for clothes and blankets especially in this cold weather.
"My daughter is trying her level best, but the death of her husband about seven years ago also spelt doom for us. My late son-in-law tried his level best to make us comfortable, but God took him away, leaving us the two widows to fend for ourselves. My daughter also has a problem in walking after she was injured while trying to run away from the Rhodesian Forces who gave us a torrid time during the liberation struggle.
"I lost virtually everything during the struggle. To think that we used to have a lot of cattle that were taken by the Smith regime is very painful because if we still had them they could be of great assistance," she said.
Her grandson, Magodo Tangwena named after her late husband is also deeply concerned with the condition her grandmother is.
"To imagine that Mbuya scarified a lot during the struggle and the sorry state in which she is now is a bitter pill for us to swallow. Something should be done as a matter of urgency.
"We are also disturbed that some people are good at making empty promises, which they will never fulfill. Some people are even using the Tangwena name for their own benefit. There is an orphanage using our grandfather's name in Nyanga and we were never consulted about it," said Magodo Tangwena.
During the farm mechanisation programme, Mbuya Tangwena received an ox-drawn plough and some of the promised things like a knap-sprayer and harrow are still to be availed.
"At one time I was promised a car and a tractor, but they never materialised. Maybe one day someone will surprise us with the promised car, tractor and goods," she said.
Having heard the plight of Mbuya Tangwena, the Zanu-PF provincial leadership mobilised groceries for her, which were donated by Mupfumi Commuters.
The grocery, which include 12x500ml of cooking oil, 10kgs of sugar, 6x2l Mazoe Orange drink, 20kgs rice, 12x750g Dolphin soap, 5kgs Sunrise flour, 2kgs dried kapenta, 10x50g Tanganda tea leaves, 12x200g Palmolive bath soap, 10x10, 24x6x400g Chiyedza candles and a dozen of bread.
The goods were handed over last Saturday night by the party's deputy provincial secretary for information and publicity, Charles Samuriwo. Zanu-PF provincial chairman, Mike Madiro, said the initiative to look into the plight of widows of heroes was mooted by the provincial executive.
"We deliberated as the provincial executive to look into the plight of widows of our heroes. We agreed to send a team to look into their needs so that we can move in to support them. These widows played a critical role during the struggle as they stood by their husbands through thick and thin. They also endured a lot of hardships in trying to defend the gains of the liberation struggle after independence.
"We appreciate their contributions. We will not end with Mbuya Tangwena. There is also Mbuya Chitepo who always carries buckets of water whenever she visits her Bonda rural home because there is no water.
"We are engaging the relevant authorities to ensure that a borehole is sunk at her Bonda home. We need to ensure that the widows and other living heroes like Morton Malianga are looked after. We should not celebrate the life of heroes after their death," he said.
Madiro also implored on young Zimbabweans to also contribute towards the welfare of the widows and living heroes.
"We should show our appreciation as Zimbabweans for the sacrifices made by all those who contributed towards the liberation of this country," said Madiro
Source - Manica post
