Only last week, seven prisoners at Mutimurefu Prison starved to death, Zimbabwe Prison Services (ZPS) officials confirmed last week.
The two orphans, from the Charamba and Dembure clan in Zaka, whose fist names were withheld as they are juveniles, were rescued by the Reformed Church In Zimbabwe (RCZ) run Community Based AIDS Programme (CBAP) near Tugwane High school last week).
The two brothers, aged 10 and 13, walked from Marereke village near Chirangano primary school in Zaka, up to Rupike irrigation scheme, under Chief Nyajena in Masvingo South District, before the CABP crew came across them.
“They were looking so pale and fragile. We saw them sleeping lifelessly besides the road and decided to talk to them, that is when they revealed every detail of their lives,” said one official from the NGO, concerned about the plight of HIV and AIDS patients and orphans in the province.
The CABP crew then took the orphans to Chief Nyajena’s residence where they explained that they were going to their aunt’s home, their only surviving relative, to beg for food.
“We had gone for many days without eating anything, save for wild fruits. We did some menial jobs but still that did not help, that is when we decided to walk to our aunt’s home,” said the eldest of the two.
Their parents, the orphans said, died six years ago and they were left in the care of their grandparents, who later died, leaving them to fend for themselves. They two said they do not know any other relatives besides their aunt.
Although Chief Nyajena was not personally contacted for comment, one of his aides confirmed the case, saying the orphans had been temporarily housed at the chief’s place while awaiting assistance from the RCZ NGO.
“We are currently housing the two orphans while we try to locate their aunt as well as get help from well wishers,” said one of Chief Nyajena’s aides.
Despite boasting of many water resources, among them the enormous Kyle/Mutirikwi and Tokwe Mukosi, the province has succumbed to annual food shortages, with more than 1 million people currently in need of food aid.
Radio VOP