THE festive season has come and Vubachikwe Mine in Gwanda has remembered widows of former mine workers by giving them a Christmas cheer in the form of goodies.
“The old people’s home is looked after by the mine and started by housing seven widows but three have since passed on literally in my hands and I now have three old women to cater for,” said Mwanabora Mwale, the Care Nurse stationed at Thornwood, some few kilometres outside of Gwanda along the road to Colleen Bawn Mine.
“I started working with the women in 2021 and they are such warm people. I pray they live long because they are an integral and important part of the Vubachikwe Mine community,” said Mwale.
The three “golden girls” are Senzeni Moyo, Sophie Dube and Martha Mwale whose spouses passed on before they were moved to the home where they receive all the care they need in their old age.
“The mine provides for their medication as they all have high blood pressure. We also give them other medication they would need as per prescription,” said Mwale.
With hampers of food and drinks, the mine representatives visited the women ahead of Christmas to share the gifts as well as hear whatever else the widows may want to make their stay in their twilight years as comfortable as possible.
“We are grateful for the food and drinks and happy that we have been remembered and hope we shall continue to be remembered,” said Gogo Sophie Dube who has lost her sight despite undergoing eye surgery.
“Perhaps next time you visit the big city Bulawayo you can get me a set of eyes so I can see you because all I see is a blur of where you are but I cannot see you. If you made our wish of food being delivered come true then I trust you to get a set of eyes,” she said, much to the amusement of her fellow housemate, Gogo Senzeni Moyo.
Gogo Senzeni was fortunate to have successful eye surgery and often helps her fellow housemate.
“We are happy for the continued support and that the disturbances did not derail the noble efforts of taking care of the widows of fallen miners,” said Mwale.
“It is a wheel that is reciprocal,” said mine spokesperson and representative to the event, Robert Mukondiwa; “they and their spouses served the mine diligently and we are reciprocating this by making sure they are comfortable in their old age.” – The Chronicle
