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Herald Reporter
CHIVI South Member of Parliament Cde Killer Zivhu has appealed to local leaders to take responsibility for vulnerable people in their communities.

He made the appeal while handing over another $3 000 to the Kembo family in Nyanga, who suffer from a rare disease that has left them with cracked heels and palms, which often bleed.

The family, which is made up of 62-year-old Ronica Kembo, her two daughters, Chisina and Nhamo, and seven grandchildren, lives in the Fombe area of Ruwangwe Village in Nyanga.

The family also has hunched backs and cannot walk properly.

The family was getting help from Emmanuel High School students and staff before Cde Zivhu adopted them.

The legislator, who is also the director of a charity organisation, the Killer Zivhu Foundation, last year bought building materials and pledged to build the family a three-bedroomed house before the end of the year.

The house is still to be built.

In an interview at the family’s homestead, Cde Zivhu said some local leaders had been trying to prevent the family from getting the house.

“When I came and saw this family for the first time, I made it my responsibility to help them,” he said. “I was hoping by December I would come back to hand over the furniture and officially open the house since members of this community had promised to provide the bricks and help in constructing the house.

“Unfortunately, when I made a follow-up just recently I was told by the headmaster of Emanuel High School that the house has not been built. They told me that the community no longer wanted to help them.”

It is alleged that ever since the donation by Cde Zivhu, the community had been neglecting the family.

“They want to see this family suffer, but that is not what the new dispensation is calling for,” he said. “Some of the community members believe their own misfortunes are being caused by this family, but I am telling you that they deserve a good life just like anybody else.”

Cde Zivhu said the house should be done by December since everything was now in place.

He said the family would also get piped water.

“After the house is done, I’m going to take care of the children,” said Cde Zivhu. “They need to go to school and acquire education like every other child.”

Narrating her ordeal, Ms Kembo said she developed the diseases as ssson as she was learning to walk.

“It started as if I had fire burns,” she said. “When I was almost eight years I was taken to Ruwangwe Hospital and I was referred to Nyanga, then to Mutare. The doctors couldn’t diagnose the disease. They gave me an injection and started removing my palm skin and nails.

“I bore these children with the hope that they would look after me. But they are also suffering from this same problem. What surprised me is that my son was not affected by this problem. He lives down there with his wife.”

Ms Kembo’s wish is to have a house, safe water and food for her family.

Social welfare representative Ms Spiwe Chakandinakira hailed Cde Zivhu for his benevolence.

“We have been working closely with the local leadership to relocate this family,” she said. “We wanted them to have a place which is strategically positioned because they have a challenge in accessing medical help.

“Our initiative was to help them access essential services, that is social protection. The site that they got is so near. We are so thankful to the Killer Zivhu Foundation for helping us realise our goals.

“At the end of the day, we will all be happy to see this family in a secure house.”