It’s tough living in Zimbabwe - even if you have a job, an income and somewhere to live. Living in Zimbabwe without any of these is just impossible. The Nazareth House Shelter in Chinoyi provides a home for indigent men and women. Currently on the roll are 33 men and 16 women, mostly from Zimbabwe, but some from Zambia, Malawi or other African countries. Though some of the more fit residents help with the small vegetable patch, most of their sustenance comes from donations from well-wishers.They receive help from Zimbabwe Relief Fund (see the article by Fr Brian McGarry on page 8) and from many benefactors, but the management committee are often hard pressed to make ends meet. After many years and yards of bureaucracy, the home now has charitable status, so should have access to more help.
The compound in which the home stands is quite small. There are two long huts, divided into shared rooms for the residents and a separate kitchen and dining room. Each person has a bed and a small place for their meagre possessions. Fortunately, the residents get on very well with each other.
One of the biggest expenses is funerals. The simplest coffin only costs £6.00 and, with the other costs, a full funeral will cost about £10. Even this small amount of money puts a strain on the Home’s purse strings.
The management committee also operates a tracing service to try and find the families of residents. However, getting someone home is often difficult and costly because of the fuel shortages. Where this is possible, enabling someone to return to their home is a priority. Whenever a vacancy becomes available at Nazareth House it is immediately filled - such is the desperate need.
The health of the residents is taken care of at the local hospital, and we also have the services of a volunteer nurse who visits us every Wednesday. She is a godsend.
The new bishop of Chinoyi, Dieter Scholz SJ, has been very supportive of our activities and Fr Tony Bex provides regular help. If you would like to join these two eminent men in helping us, then just respond to our ‘want ad’ on page 23.
