Frail 96-year-old deportee still stuck at Plumtree Hospital

The 96-year-old man who was deported from Botswana three months ago is still admitted to the Plumtree District Hospital as no retirement home is willing to take him in. Mr Alfred Khumalo was deported by the Botswana immigration officials in August.He was reportedly turned away from two retirement homes in Bulawayo last month, forcing the hospital to continue housing him.

"Attempts were made last month to have him moved to Ekuphumuleni Old People's Home and also to an old people's home located at the United Bulawayo Hospitals but the plans failed.

"Officials at Ekuphumuleni requested a $50 fee per month for his upkeep but the Government indicated that it could only provide $15. He was later taken to UBH but was returned on the same day when officials said he did not have the appropriate documents," said an official at Plumtree District Hospital.

The official expressed hope that well wishers would offer him financial assistance for his upkeep.

Health officials at the hospital said his condition continued to deteriorate.

"It is not proper for Mr Khumalo to be housed in a hospital as being surrounded by ill people only makes him ill. He is old and weak and he needs to be moved to a proper facility. The diet that is being served here is not appropriate for someone in his condition.

"He was much better when he was deported but his condition keeps deteriorating owing to the environment he is exposed to. He was in a critical condition for the past week and he only became better on Tuesday. He could hardly eat and we had to connect him to a drip," said a nurse at the hospital.

She said Mr Khumalo was constantly suffering from high blood pressure and chest problems.

When Chronicle visited the hospital on Tuesday, Mr Khumalo could hardly speak, an indication that he was in pain.

Contacted for comment, Plumtree District Medical Officer Dr Langalokusa Sibanda also said attempts to move him to a retirement facility had failed and referred this reporter to the Department of Social Services for a comment as they were handling the issue.

In response to questions, Matabeleland South Provincial Social Services Department Officer Mr Totamirepi Tirivavi said efforts to put Mr Khumalo in a retirement facility were still underway.

"Mr Khumalo requires special care and attention and there are only two institutions that can offer such care and facilities which are Bumhudzo Old People's Home in Harare and Ekuphumuleni in Bulawayo.

"Efforts are under way to place him at Ekuphumuleni once his medical condition has improved. The two institutions accept people that have been recommended by specialist doctors," said Mr Tirivavi.

He said the Department of Social Services would cater for his medical bills once he had been placed in an institution.

Mr Tirivavi said the institution would be paid maintenance grants on a monthly basis.

Mr Khumalo was deported from Botswana in August after living in the neighbouring country for 70 years. The deportation was believed to be politically-motivated.

At that time Botswana was reported to have embarked on an operation to flush out Zimbabwean immigrants in protest against the outcome of the harmonised elections soon after they were held on 31 July.

Mr Khumalo, who was frail, was dragged from his hospital bed at Selebi-Phikwe by Botswana immigration officials.

Upon deportation, he was taken to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) premises next to the border post, where health officials at the facility referred him to Plumtree District Hospital.

Mr Khumalo said he was born in 1917 in Mbembesi area. He indicated that he did not know anyone in the country and was not comfortable staying in Zimbabwe as he did not have any place of residence and anyone to take care of him.