By Chrispen Tabvura|Zimbabwe’s Harare based Jazz musician Vengai Kanhema, popularly known as Vekann has defied the ZANU PF government in his individual capacity, by travelling 439 kilometres to clothe the dumped former industrial workers’ families, who are now residing at Bulawayo’s main dump-site.
Kanhema travelled from Harare where he is based, to deliver clothes and exercise books worth thousands of United States Dollars, at a time when the government has been splashing hundreds of millions of the same currency in countless globe trotting flights.
Ngozi dumpsite, which is now commonly known as Ngozi Mine, is now home to more than 1000 families, whose life nosedived after the abrupt closure of several Bulawayo factories. Kanhema who was accompanied by Ronald Sigauke a broadcasting journalist and Pastor Maponga, first met the Sidojiwe Children whose parents cannot afford clothing and school fees due to non-payment of their salaries.
Kanhema’s first port of donation Sidojiwe, is where most of CSC and National Railways of Zimbabwe employees are residing, following years of not receiving their salaries.
“I am not here to be seen that I am assisting my fellow brothers, sisters and children, but I am here to share what I have from deep down of my heart. I was touched when I read about the plight of these people from a community based organisation website.
I decided to budget for clothing and exercise books as we all know that if someone is clothed and educated, there will be a promising tomorrow,” said Vekann.
Both Sidojiwe and Ngozi community expressed gratitude for the donation and prayed for the musician’s safe travel back to Harare, so that he can return anytime soon with more help.
“God bless baba Vekann, we are praying to our Almighty to give you more days of life and that you must be given more energy to work and [also] open factories here to employ our suffering children, who are certainly facing a bleak future as long as this current government is in existence,” said Robert Tshuma, a community chairperson.
Pastor Maponga who also accompanied the musician to both places, applauded the artiste for his kind heart.
“I am taking this moment to praise the Lord for your donation. I say to you Vekann, you are a blessing for Zimbabwe and beyond. For you have shown to the world that you have the heart of a leader. You have a heart of blessings and I say to you be blessed and keep up the spirit,” he said.