Residents of Entembeni Old People's Home were also smiles this Monday after receiving 20 bags of rice donated by Parliament.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister Judith Ncube handed over the donation on behalf of Parliament Speaker Jacob Mudenda.
"I am standing here on behalf of Advocate Mudenda, the Speaker of Parliament. He was supposed to come and spend some time with you, but he was not feeling well and asked me to represent him. He sends his sincere apologies," Ncube said.
She said the donation reflected Parliament's commitment to honouring and supporting elderly citizens who dedicated their lives to raising and nurturing future generations.
"We are here because we know that older people nurtured us and raised us. Ukuzala yikuzimbela, meaning that children should become a source of comfort and support to their parents in old age," she said.
Ncube urged society not to neglect vulnerable members of the community, saying homes such as Entembeni, Ekuphumuleni and Jairos Jiri continue to provide care for elderly people, while other institutions look after abandoned children.
"As we go about our lives, we must always remember our elderly people. They cared for us when we were young and deserve to be cared for in return," she said.
Entembeni Old People's Home board chairperson Newman Sibanda expressed gratitude to Parliament for its continued support. He said Parliament funded the installation of a solar power system at the home, ending years of electricity challenges caused by load shedding.
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"This area used to experience serious load shedding, but Parliament came and solarised our home. We are no longer victims of power outages. Even our hospital section now has reliable electricity and residents can watch television without interruption," he said.
Sibanda also commended Ncube for contributing on major improvements at the home.
"The board and staff worked hard to implement what you taught us. Today, many visitors mistake this place for a college because of the improvements that have been made," he said.
