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| © Ernest Mackina Photography 2013 |
The legitimation of any society is confirmed
by the presence of the elderly. It is said that “indlela ibuzwa kwabaphambili”
which loosely means, the path is asked by those ahead.
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| © Ernest Mackina Photography 2013 |
In this journey of life,
the elderly are important as they inform a society of known and unknown norms
and values.
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| © Ernest Mackina Photography 2013 |
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| © Ernest Mackina Photography 2013 |
They are mobile libraries and in an African setting, they carry
repositories of knowledge, as their lives are decorated with a massive wealth
of experiences.
It
is saddening however that, with all this at hand, the elderly have been
forgotten and placed in old people’s homes, with their memories receding into
oblivion.
Despite this somber reality, the Rotaract Club of Matopos witnessed
first hand, the joy possessed by the smiles of the octogenarian and nonagenarians
at the Ekuphumuleni Geriatric Nursing Home in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
During
the clubs visit to the humbling home, they were introduced to a centurion
whose sharp mind recalled her exact date of birth.
She exclaimed in a clever
tone “ I was born in 1907”.
The club arrived at the home on a sunny bright
morning, armed with blankets, detergents and foodstuffs they had sourced from
their own coffers and assistance from well-wishers, a short proceeding took
place as there was an a Capella group that performed their piece of beautiful
music that ministered to the grandparents.
Immediate
Past President Thandi Bhanda took to the floor and vibrantly kept the elderly
entertained through a series of jokes and comical acts.
She then gave out
goodies, much to the delight of the geriatrics whose faces lit up in pleasure.
She then opened the floor for the club to engage in dialogue with the wise
residents. It was a bittersweet experience for some, as tears of happiness and
touched hearts rued the atmosphere.
Amongst the participants was a certain
Tapiwa Kupfuwa, who disclosed discontent at how the world had become disconnected
with their own grand folk. Everyone scrounged to have an image taken with the
centurian. The official handover of the donations was done and a vote of thanks
was given.
Visiting
the elderly is very essential and helps them overcome loneliness. It also helps
them remember that they are not alone, and brings joy to their hearts.
A mere
half an hour of your time, is enough to show a gesture of love, whether you
have a relative or not in an old peoples home.
They should not be ignored, but
rather attended to, loved and given adequate attention.
The older generation
holds significant value to the generation as they can share through
conversation and fellowship a wealth of tacit knowledge.
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| © Ernest Mackina Photography 2013 |
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| © Ernest Mackina Photography 2013 |
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| © Ernest Mackina Photography 2013 |
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| © Ernest Mackina Photography 2013 |
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| © Ernest Mackina Photography 2013 |
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| © Ernest Mackina Photography 2013 |
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| © Ernest Mackina Photography 2013 |
