BSCS Gives 84-year-old Elderly Person Hope

Gogo Emely Dube, 84, was drinking 'mahewu' from a yellow tin container when the Zimbabwe Development and Democracy Trust (ZDDT) paid her a visit at her home in Old Lobengula suburb.

She said, all her children had passed away and no one was left to take care of her.

"As you can see, I haven't had mealie-meal for the past two days and I'm simply surviving like a bird by drinking this 'mahewu' to survive."

Dube said her sole surviving child lived in a rural area where she was married and suffering from a spinal cord condition which rendered her child unable to walk.

"I have a knee condition, so I can't walk or perform any manual labour. I'm very grateful of the ZDDT donation."

Dube is the recipient of a $50 Business Social Credit Scheme (BSCS) grant from the Zimbabwe Development and Democracy Trust (ZDDT). The Sally Foundation of Australia and Bulawayo-based businesses have contributed to the BSCS scheme, which aims to protect the city's needy families from financial hardship.

The local Councillor, who is involved in the beneficiary vetting process, said, "the issue with the elderly in this community is that they have no one to take care of them, which is a difficulty for us. They struggle to survive because no one is taking care of them, so they depend on donations from other people."

"We have a programme where 50% of the elderly's housing payments are deducted at the housing office. To assist Gogo Dube and ensure she doesn't have debt for her house, I have spoken to her about this, and I’m working on it. I would like to thank this gift by the ZDDT which is improving people's lives," said Old Lobengula Extention and Njube Ward 21 Councillor, Lilian Mlilo.