Meet the Ambassador for all Orphans and Child-Headed Families in Nkulumane

Giving Councillor Ernest Rafamoyo an opportunity to express his views on what the community deserves, can take a very long time.

Rafamoyo, pictured above, who is best described by his ward as a philanthropist, is considered the father of, and ambassador for, all orphans and child-headed families in Nkulumane.

This is not all for which the community leader is known and, just mentioning the name Rafamoyo, in Bulawayo’s western townships, will create excitement.

Chrispen Tabvura (CT), ZDDT News’s Senior Journalist and News Correspondent, talked to the humble Councillor Ernest Rafamoyo (ER) in the early hours of a Saturday.

CT: Good morning Councillor Rafa. How are you this morning?

ER: Good morning to you Chris. It’s still morning and I have not yet prepared any breakfast. You are welcome Mr Journalist; I know you must have a hot issue hence coming to the Councillor so early.

CT: True to your words I am hearing this new name given to you. They are now calling you Orphans and Child-headed families Ambassador. Can you brief me on that?

ER: As you know, and also having visited some of my projects, I have been looking after a number of orphans, some who have been dumped by their parents who went to SA and never returned alive and some who succumbed to the deadly HIV/Aids.

I arranged a lot of successful poultry projects that saw orphans paying for their school fees and upkeep. I am now looking into this retirement project. I will be glad to enjoy the fruits of my sweat after retiring from council.

CT: Ok. Is that how you become the ambassador! Now I know. So how far have you gone with these initiatives?

ER: I am now aiming at graduating them into the technical world, as I have seen their potential after some of them passed at ‘O’ Level and now need fees to go to tertiary education.

CT: How are you going to raise funds for them since they are quite a number?

ER: I have found a place which I am going to turn into a vocational training centre. As I am a graduate in Electrical Engineering, I am going to offer them training, thereby equipping them with a practical profession that will empower the whole community and also they will, in turn, give others the same knowledge via the same institute.

CT: Oh ok! That’s wonderful Councillor. Where and how are you going to establish it?

ER: I have already convinced the council and they have given me the place. What is left is only to fundraise for its construction and start the ball rolling.

CT: That’s a wonderful project councillor. When do you look forward to its first enrolment and kick starting the insitute?

ER: I am already busy hunting for well-wishers to come to my rescue. I am a ZDDT’s Sebenzela-Shandira product, so I am not going to lose; I know I am a winner as the organisation never produced failures.

CT: That’s a good one. So what can you tell well-wishers of what you want done and also your dream?

ER: I am asking for their kind donations for the construction of this noble centre that will cater for the western township community and their children. I am also asking my mentors, ZDDT, to extent their hand to this project that is set to reduce the need for orphanages and make the disadvantaged less vulnerable.

CT: This is a noble project councillor Rafa. I think I will also contribute my skills to your institute as a donation to add value to your dream. I hope ZDDT are going to read your request and give a hand.

ER: That will be great. Please pass my regards to NDO, Mr Simon and Madam Angela, the ‘Queen’. Tell them to give a hand to my retirement project.

CT: I will sir. Let me give you time to prepare your breakfast and I will come back for it after my other interviews in your area.

ER: You are welcome Mr Journalist, but make sure you come back for breakfast because I will be waiting.

CT: I will sir. Thank you. Let me fly around Ward 20 for what I want and come back for the breakfast.

ER: Fly around well young man. See you when you come back.