PHILATHROPIST and land developer Killer Zivhu yesterday began implementing his Zimba365 programme that he launched earlier this month to donate to over 1 500 people living with albinism.
BY STAFF REPORTER
Zivhu donated blankets, clothing and skin creams for dozens of members of an organisation called Save the Need House and Alive Albinism Initiative who attended the first ceremony.
“We are going to help about 1 500 people in Harare alone, but they will be coming in batches. Our aim is to inspire other people who have the means to come forward and also assist. People with albinism are discriminated against in homes and the areas they come from.
However, one of the most overlooked things is their need for skin creams to protect them from harsh weather conditions and the situation is dire for those in rural areas,” he said.
The Chivi Rural District Council chairperson launched Zimba365 to help Zimbabweans across the board and instill a sense of ownership among citizens.
Zimba365 is already in a partnership with State parastatal CourierConnect to help cross-border traders with the movement of goods into and out of the country.
Zivhu said due to traditional beliefs, children living with albinism were at times the cause of many domestic disputes in families.
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“Some children, we have noticed, are ill-treated by their own parents, while the likelihood of divorce when, in particular, men realise their wives have given birth to a child who has this condition, is high,” he said.
“Our coming-in to help is under the banner of the programme we launched earlier this month called Zimba365, which is meant to inculcate a sense of patriotism in our people. Whatever we do, all our actions should be pointed towards the betterment of our society and country in particular.”
The Zimbabwe Amalgamated Housing Association director said he understood the fears of albinos given reports they were being targeted for traditional rituals.
“We understand your plight, but I want to say nobody chose to be what they are. We also understand your fears in the wake of reports in some parts of the continent that people with your condition are being hunted to death with a view to using their body parts for traditional medicines,” he said.
