The Sunday Mail
Emmanuel Kafe recently in Nyanga
The Nyanga family that developed bullae (large blisters) on their palms and soles, leaving them unable to walk, heaved a huge sigh of relief after philanthropist, businessman and politician Dr Killer Zivhu pledged to take one of them to India for corrective surgery.
In the event the surgery is successful, the remaining family members Kembo will also travel to the Asian country for treatment.
The rare condition cannot be treated in Zimbabwe.
Dr Zivhu also donated building materials for a three-roomed house for the family at Fombe Growth Point in Ruwangwe.
The Kembo family currently stays in a dilapidated mud-and-thatch hut. Dr Zivhu said his foundation will fork out more than US$30 000 for the new house and for medical assistance.
Ms Ronica Kembo chronicled how tough things had been for the family.
“As you can see, we cannot walk and as such we are not able to go to the centres where others receive aid. The other thing is that the locals believe that we are cashing in on the disability as we are getting help from donors. The truth is that we are struggling and living by the grace of God,” Ms Kembo said.
Ms Kembo said the family is not using the wheelchairs that they received from well-wishers as they fear that they can be forcibly taken away from them.
Apart from being sidelined from local activities, the family is also being pestered by a traditional healer and members of an apostolic sect.
“We have had so many people coming here demanding that we gave them our daughter as a form of appeasement. Traditional healers and members of several apostolic sects are claiming that a family member killed a Mozambican and the spirit of the dead must be appeased,” added Ms Kembo.
The traditional healers and sect members are demanding that a 15-year-old member of the family be handed over to them as “appeasement” to ward of what they say is an evil spirit that is plaguing them.
The family fears that their daughter might be used as a sex slave or for ritual purposes.
“As far as I know, this family is not haunted by avenging spirits. These people wants to take my daughter as their sex slave. They might also want to use her for sacrificial purposes. We are going to report them to the police if they continue nagging us,” Ms Kembo said.
Local headman Mr Paul Kagosa urged members of the Kembo family to remain strong and steadfast.
“God will answer your prayers. As you have heard, your condition can be cured. Remain positive and look forward to a better future,” said Headman Kagosa.
The Kembo family said they were grateful to what Dr Zivhu had done and looked forward to better days.
“We are short of words. We don’t know how to thank Dr Zivhu. Once we are treated, we will be able to fend for ourselves and live a normal life. Begging will be a thing of the past,” Ronica, who was brimming with hope, said.
Dr Zivhu has helped hundreds of needy people throughout Zimbabwe via his Killer Zivhu Foundation.
He has built homes, sent patients for specialist treatment abroad, and rehabilitated schools, clinics, roads and bridges.
