I flew in from cold, wet and windy Cape Town and was met at ORT in Johannesburg by Neels KOEKEMOER. We drove down to Malelane where I started my introduction to the ZPSF team, meeting Linda and Johan SCHULTZ and their son Frans SCHULTZ for the first time. After touring the warehouse in Malelane and having an in-depth discussion about ZPSF with Linda we turned in for an early night in preparation for a long trip.
August 28
We arrived at the warehouse at about 7am to pick up the truck and the bakkie and head out for Zimbabwe. Here I met Michelle who helps Linda in the office with the vast administrative work that has to be done. Then it was off and a quick return because Johan had forgotten the very important cross-border folders at the warehouse. Following the truck at 80 kmph is a challenge but it was an uneventful trip and we spent the night in Musina at Baobab Cottages.
August 29
Another early day as the border is always a mystery and often impacted by the “whether”, whether they are in a good mood, have changed procedures or not! We stopped at Tannie Hester JOUBERT in Musina and met her daughter Colleen. We picked up a food parcel for Chris FERREIRA in Kadoma and were then on our way. The South African side was a surprise as there is now no gate pass so it is easier. Then across the “new” bridge and onto the Zimbabwe side where the processes and fees are endless and not always intuitive. The ZPSF agent Robert makes the crossing far easier, but the truck was selected for a scan this time even though it is empty. Johan and I were across very quickly considering the level of bureaucracy and once the truck was through, we flew to Bulawayo, well actually we took a very slow and bumpy ride along a potholed and sometimes almost nonexistent road. Despite the quick crossing we only arrived in Bulawayo at about 3:30pm and headed straight to the warehouse where we left the truck in preparation for its packing by the ZPSF team of Angela, her son Nathan and her other helpers. We then headed to Willem and Caroline NEL’s home where we spent a lovely evening with them and their children Candace, Anthony and Jean.
August 30
An early start as Johan and I were delivering boxes with the bakkie today and Neels was a-taking a day of rest prior to the hard work. Our first stop was in the dusty and chaotic mining town of Zvishavane, a place of hustles and fast deals. Our stop here was to drop off a few boxes for pensioners living out in the town and these boxes are distributed with the valuable help of Mike TIMVEOUS who runs the bakery. After a quick chat and a delicious cinnamon roll, we pushed on because the road ahead was Zimbabwe bad and it was the road to Shurugwe. Down a once tarred road which is now more pothole than road, we arrived at the MUUS Cottages and pensioners in a forgotten corner of a faded town. The staff came out to meet us and as news of the arrival of the boxes spread some of the residents drifted down to see us. There was Colin BELL, a former French teacher, Daniel and CJ LUBBE who are caring for their granddaughter Hannah, Kathy FELDMAN and Martha DAILY. The smiles as we unloaded the boxes tells the story as these people eke out their existence until they are blessed by the next box of essentials. The highlight of this stop was a meeting with Granny Shugura who is over 90 years old and who was not well when the last delivery happened. She welcomes us with the biggest smile I have seen and blessings for the rest of our journey. These are proud people but one can see the weariness in their faces, weariness that comes with struggling to keep everything together in a community that has moved on. This stop ended our day as we head back to Bulawayo with a stop for a bite to eat in Gweru.
August 31
Today we had an early start at the warehouse where Angela and her crew were readying the boxes to be loaded onto the truck. The loading of the truck was very methodical as the last boxes to be distributed must be the first onto the truck. The loading process took about three hours from start to finish and then Johan and I headed to Barbara Burrell Home for the Blind. Our first stop here was to speak to Dr. Willie LEGGE who was in the lounge. Then from down the corridor came this loud happy laugh and I am told that we needed to go to meet Anita Van Der HEIDEN who had heard us arrive. Her laughter and obvious excitement to see us was the sign of an amazing spirit as she has been confined to a wheelchair and with limited movement since she fell off a tractor in Salisbury (Harare) many years ago as a child. Leaving Barbara Burrell we bumped into Colleen and Alan KEDDA who were there to visit Anita.
Our next stop was to deliver a box to Rob LOMAX and we were greeted with a huge bear hug and exuberant thanks for the box. Rob lives in what might be termed a tool shed behind someone’s house, a shed that has almost no ablution facilities and for which he must pay US$100 a month. I am shattered by his living conditions and amazed that he still smiles. We left with his words “Thank you, thank you” ringing in our ears.
September 1
We left Bulawayo for the “around Zimbabwe” portion of the delivery today and we had to make an early start. Last things were packed at the warehouse trying to account for any surprises along the way. Neels KOEKEMOER and I made this trip together while Johan remained in Bulawayo. Our stopping point today was Boggies Trust in Gweru where we were to spend the night. We made good time as the road was pretty good, but on entering we clipped the security gate with the very back of the lift on the truck and collapsed their gate. The next four hours were spent trying to repair it and make right what we had damaged. Bruce CHILCOTT, Babs COETZEE, Peter ESTERHUIZEN were among those trying to find someone to effect repairs and here I saw some of the old spirit peeking out as a plan was made. BJ LAWRY arrived and was able to right the concrete pole and start the repairs on the gate and, since he was already there, we unloaded the Gweru Outsiders boxes as he helps to distribute them. In the end it was a late evening for us and we gladly retired to our cottage and crawled into bed to prepare for another early start.
September 2
The unloading of the boxes started at 6:30am with the help of a few staff members. The boxes got laid in neat rows and few residents braved the chilly Gweru morning to come out to chat. Graeme ASHBY is a recent arrival at Boggies as he was twice attacked and beaten at his home in greater Gweru and so had to move for safety reasons. His joy at seeing a box in the lineup was emotional and the look of gratitude was written all over his face.
However, for Neels and I there was a long day ahead and our next stop was at Herbert Lee Cottages, a Lions old age home, in Redcliff where there was a small crowd of anxious pensioners waiting for us and for the essential supplies that arrive in the boxes. Carol FERREIRA is the organizer here and we were greeted with hugs. There was excited chatter amongst the gathering as the boxes were brought off the truck. The arrival of the truck is a social event for people who get little outside contact and I observed jovial interactions between all of them. Demetra GREEN managed to come down using her walker and I got to talk to Carol and Manuel FERREIRA to find out more about their lives. Sad to see what years of careful planning during their working lives has resulted in. Here we received our first of many thank you notes some of which were heartbreaking.
Next, we dropped off at Lynbrook in Kwe Kwe where “commander” Dee ADLIN took charge of the unloading and cracked the whip to make sure everything was done in a ship-shape manner. What a lovely lady and to top it all off we met her granddaughter Heidi and her great granddaughter Mia. The residents treated us to a lovely tea from their meagre resources and I felt guilty but honoured to partake in what they are providing. All too soon we were off again and it was to Kadoma where we made our next deliveries for the day at Westview Cottages. By this time the emotional stress of seeing so many people with so much need and who were so thankful was taking its toll. At Westview Del PARKIN met us and her team made quick work of offloading and distributing the boxes. The gardens here were beautiful despite the drought, a sign of pride in their home, but after hugs and quick chats to Elaine SHARP and Marty MOLLER we were on the road again. It was time for our last delivery for the day and it was in Chegutu at Greenways Trust off of “what’s left of the road” and we made quick work of the drop off and were soon on our way. Tired and both physically and mentally worn out we arrived at Sunningdale Homes in Chinoyi where we were housed in Dominee Johan HAASBROEK’s cottage and invited to a dinner with Heather and Dennis NEL, a lovely couple who I could have talked with long into the night. Before dinner I popped in to see Jill FLANAGAN who I have heard so much about over the years from Graham and Anne MCDONALD.
September 3
We begin before sunrise as by sunset we will be in Rusape. No grass could grow under our feet and the news of our arrival had spread throughout the community. As we unloaded the boxes with the help of the EMT Elvis, residents started to arrive and so do those picking up boxes from outside of the home. Frank HOLMAN, Aris KOUTOUNGOS, Nancy CLARINGBOLD, Eve JANSE VAN RENSBURG, Nev BURGER, Elize SLEVWRIGHT and Phil and Lettie ODENDAAL are amongst those excited to chat at me. Jill FLANAGAN even made it down in her wheelchair to thank us for ZPSF’s help. The gathered crowd’s excitement at receiving their box of food was reminiscent of a Christmas morning and this made me realise how fortunate most of us are not to be in this unwanted situation.
All too soon we were back on the road to Harare and to drop off a large number for boxes at John and Leonie HERBST who are the vital link in distribution to points in and around Harare. John and Leonie were not there and once the unloading and usual uploading of empty boxes was done, we went to receive a very kind donation of fuel from Vit BONGIOVANI. Without this donation and one other the trip would be very difficult fuel wise. A brief stop near Bromley for a pie as it was already 2pm and we have not eaten yet today. Phyllis BANKS, wife of Peter BANKS, was waiting for us in Marondera to collect two boxes and she gave us the most delicious homemade crunchies which you know she made from some of the basic foods ZPSF puts into the boxes, what a treat.
Our day ended in Rusape at Resthaven Cottages where we will spend the night. There was a welcoming committee waiting as the truck pulled in and as quickly as I placed the checked off boxes at the edge of the truck this string of proud pensioner men hauled them off the truck and then send them to their intended cottages. This home has a spirit that is palpable and there was a camaraderie here stirred by the interesting characters that occupy these ancient prefab cottages. These characters included Stu TAYLOR, Lindsay and Nevin LEES-MAY, Decklin and Mary Lou MCLOUD, Roy HODGSON, Rose CALLAGHAN, Pam COUCOM and her daughter Robyn, Harry NOBLE, Lena and Andries SOSA, Mary Lyn SMYTH (Nan) and Sheila FOULIS. There was no electricity here when we arrive, but we are treated royally to a lovely tea of flap jacks, jam, crunchies and other sweet treats followed shortly by a full meal. It was obvious that the arrival of the truck was a cause for a community celebration and great excitement. It was a great evening of friendly banter and it was heartwarming to hear their stories. We are late to bed and tomorrow is another early day.
September 4
Neels and I slipped out of Resthaven and Rusape before the residents and the town awake and headed for Mutare. Traveling through some of the most stunning and beautiful countryside with largely fallow and untended farms we arrived in Mutare at Des BECKER’s where we unloaded a large number of boxes for distribution in and around Mutare. Des is a fund of information on the area and those who live there and we had a good chin wag and a lovely cuppa before pushing on. We traveled via Birchenough Bridge to Masvingo along some of the worst roads I had experienced in Zimbabwe and all made worst by the fact that the truck was now largely full of empty boxes. Shaken and not stirred we arrived in the late afternoon at Pioneer Cottages in Masvingo and are met by Sister Connie MATICHA and Maureen EDWARDS. The boxes were unloaded and I then had the privilege of meeting Jimmy MILLAR, Neel’s Geography teacher from Fort Victoria High School. We were told that lunch was waiting for us and so into the hall we went to a beautifully laid table and a superb lunch. In the hall I chatted with Elsabe VAN ROOYEN, Kathy WATRIDGE, Aletta BEZUIDENHOUT and Maureen EDWARDS. Rose LAMPRECHT comes to sit at the table as we are eating but alas I didn’t get to chat to her.
September 5
We headed back to Bulawayo today after this whirlwind trip that has been physically as well as mentally tiring, but a trip that has meant so much to me. To see the work done by ZPSF and the state that many of these people live in makes me exceptionally grateful for all those who have seen fit to and continue to see fit to help our Zimbabwe pensioners. A note from one pensioner summed up the work done by ZPSF on behalf of the pensioners and all of the donors worldwide. In part it read “I feel guilty and also wonder if I deserve such a kind and generous gift. However, as I grow older (now 86) I have become more dependent not just materially but also psychologically on the regular boxes. Without relatives or close friends the arrival of a box is something I look forward to and gives me a sense of comfort that life is still worth living”. This brought tears to our eyes and left us speechless and this explains how important all of our donors are to our pensioners. Back in Bulawayo we received the second very kind donation of fuel courtesy of Tinashe at Colbro and then the truck was parked back at the warehouse for unloading. The unloading was just as complex as the loading as each box needs to be checked in and the boxes sorted by old age home or area of delivery.
September 6
Today was a partial down day after the trip, but it started off with a visit to Carol CORREA to drop off her box and a lovely chat with a strongly opinionated lady. Then a quick visit to Coronation cottages to collect some empty boxes. As Johan had paperwork and other administrative things to deal with I spent a few hours in central Bulawayo exploring some of the old buildings. When Johan was done, he collected me and we headed over to see Mari WEST who is bedridden after a stroke and is confined to one room. She was not in good shape and is starved for company since being moved from Masonic Lodge in Bulawayo. Not a great situation to walk into and we stay a while.
September 7
Today we headed for the border back to South Africa, but there was one last stop to deliver a box to Paxi WILSON who lives alone in a ranch house between Gwanda and Beit Bridge. Paxi has lived in this house for 48 years and is a formidable woman whose face tells of the hardships she has and is suffering. After a short visit we are on the road again. Robert met us in Beit Bridge and he assisted the truck back across the border while Johan and I negotiated it ourselves with the bakkie. The Zimbabwe side was smooth and easy to pass through, but the South Africans were grumpy on this day, treating people with a great deal of disdain. All in all, it took us about 90 minutes to go through both sides and we stopped for the evening in Louis Trichardt in time to watch the Boks take on the All Blacks.
September 8
Johan dropped me in Linksfield so that I could meet up with my sister and brother-in-law before I flew back to Cape Town. I was tired, my arms were sore, but my heart was full of the gratitude shown to and by our golden oldies. I also came away with a better understanding of the huge needs and the massive efforts that these trips take on the part of everyone from the donors to the ZPSF team to the volunteers.
General:
I has been my honour to be part of this trip, to work with all of the fantastic people that make the boxes happen and to interact with so many of our golden oldies as I travelled around Zimbabwe delivering the boxes. Johan and Linda SCHULTZ are the key to this drive and effort and without them, and the network built up by the late Hannes BOTHA, none of this would be possible.
Without our generous donors around the world the needy pensioners that I met would certainly be in even more dire straits than they are in currently. Their gratitude for the efforts of all of those involved with ZPSF cannot be expressed enough and I saw for myself this gratitude in teary eyes, carefully penned notes and in the way they greeted us as we went from old age home to old age home. These pensioners live from box to box and each visit brings with it sadness as there are always a few missing and who have passed on to higher service in between trips.
Many of these oldies have outlived their peers and have often also outlived their children or have children who live in far off places and whom they seldom see. Equally important is the social side of these trips where the volunteers meet the residents of the old age homes, because these pensioners often feel forgotten by the world and the ZPSF visits let them know that they are loved and that people around the world care about them.
The intricacy and level of careful planning that has to go into each trip, the time spent by numerous volunteers and those distributing the boxes in main cities is immeasurable. Thanks have to also go to all of those who work so hard both in South Africa and around the world to gather donations that go to make sure that our golden oldies are not forgotten. Thanks must also be shouted out for the donations of fuel that help the truck to keep on keeping on, Vit BONGIOVANI and Tinashe are rockstars for their support. Thanks must go to God for watching over the drivers and volunteers as they traverse a difficult Zimbabwean landscape.
Chris Whitehead.
Head office South Africa contact details:
Linda Schultz – linda@zpsf.co.za / zpsf@zpsf.onmicrosoft.com (C) 079 6082676
Johan Schultz – johan@zpsf.co.za – 082 4979328
Section 21 Co Reg. 2007/034036/08; NPO Number 096733; Section 18A PBO No 930031642
“Statement Mission: This is a non-profitable Organisation and formed to provide pensioners in Zimbabwe with food and basic medicine networking with relevant bodies and institutions; and in humble gratitude to God Almighty.”
