Staff Reporter
Kwekwe mayor Cllr Albert Zinhanga has donated groceries and blankets to a Mbizo woman and her five children following their return from Botswana after the woman separated from her husband.
The donation was made after the mayor’s office received information about the family’s circumstances from neighbours and conducted a fact-finding visit.
Speaking during the handover, Cllr Zinhanga said the assistance was sourced from Kwekwe residents after an appeal for support.
“We visited you on a fact-finding mission and appealed to Kwekwe residents for help on your behalf. It is difficult to be abandoned, especially when you have children who need support to attend school,” said Cllr Zinhanga.
He said his office would assist the family in obtaining birth certificates for the children and facilitate their enrolment in school.
Cllr Zinhanga said the woman had previously visited the Kwekwe Registrar’s Office seeking birth certificates for the children but could not raise the required funds.
He added that although the council was not currently recruiting, the office would assist in identifying employment opportunities should vacancies become available.
“The groceries and blankets have been donated by the Kwekwe community and there is still more to come. Once our office receives further donations, our officials will deliver them,” he said.
Cllr Zinhanga also thanked residents for supporting the family and urged families to remain united despite challenges.
The woman, Gladys Chauya, expressed gratitude for the assistance and appealed for further support, including food, clothing and help with enrolling her children in school.
“I want to thank the Kwekwe community for the support given to me. I am finding it difficult to look after my children,” said Chauya.
She said she returned to Zimbabwe from Botswana after separating from her husband as it had become difficult to provide for the children while in a foreign country.
Chauya’s children are aged 13, 10, 8, 5 and one year.
