I eat cow dung because i have no food
Nope, their inquisitiveness as to who was behind the wheels of the vehicle and passengers therein was borne out of the extreme circumstances of poverty and drought they have had to grapple with over the years.
To them the vehicle was bringing a whole lot of goodies to the homestead and they did not want to miss out.
Gamedze broke the news: "I'm certain they would be here asking for a share of the goodies or whatever you brought here once you're gone," she said wryly her face of despondency not withstanding. Gamedze's plight was first exposed by our sister newspaper, the Swazi Observer on July 20, although at the time her identity was never divulged.
She lives on cow dung taken alongside ARVs owing to her dire straits. "For me living on cow dung is not optional; my neighbours are aware of my plight and can't help as you've seen them inquisitively looking this way as you arrived. They would want to help but the poverty is deep seated here and every living soul feels it.
"Only the FPE (free primary education) programme has ensured children from this area access education, otherwise they would be roaming the area". Asked how her plight could be alleviated other than through rations from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Gamedze's face lit up. "My son, a reliable supply of water would do that as I could establish a backyard garden. I tried joining the association (Mahhuku Farmers) but couldn't last the mile as the distance from here to the farm is strenuous. They (association) are equally frustrated when it comes to accessing water for their crops.
"In addition I'm weak and cannot afford to engage in rigorous farming most of the members there do on daily basis. But I can manage a backyard garden which would require less effort and minimum supply of water". She also thinks if permanent employment could be availed for her son, estimated to be over 30 years old, they could kiss their misery goodbye.
He was employed locally as a security guard but had to quit after not being paid for two months. The son was unfortunately not around as he was reported to have left in search of piece jobs.
The issue of provision of water as a priority in the area was shared by Mandla Siphanga who noted that if this were to be availed to them, they could achieve more even with their farming undertaking.
Lugongolweni MP Joseph Souza, who was with the Weekend Observer crew on the day, reiterated that the need for a reliable water supply was an instantaneous one.
Gamedze also recently appeared on SABC 1's ‘Cutting Edge' programme where she shared her plight with them. They found her on her way to church. She says going to church ensures she doesn't become a burden unto her neighbours.
Opening up to this newspaper about her quandary, Gamedze said she long resigned herself untoher fate as help was just not forthcoming. "I grew up taking cow dung mixed with water if I had a running stomach for it alleviates this. When I began taking ARVs, which is several years ago, I continued using it because there's no food here. Even my neighbours are faced with equally difficult circumstances," she said.
Duo feeds off from timphephelezi
Not only does Gamedze lives on cow dung with her son (also on ARVs), their meal is often times one so delicate.
She and her son feed off morsels of maize (timphephelezi) taken from the nearby grinding mill.
They usually purchase these and then would eat it for weeks on ends.
Purchasing maize morsels from the grinding mill has been ongoing for the last three years and they are not about to halt it. Why?
"I wish somebody could provide me with an alternative. For now I thank World Vision Swaziland for providing some temporary relief through provision of several sachets containing rice, beans and soup – all in one. Another challenge for the Gamedzes is that they live in an almost open structure.
If a decent structure could be provided to the woman and her son, the present rondavel she sleeps in could then turn into a kitchen.
The area is amongst those in the Lowveld that have persistently experienced severe drought conditions dating back to the early 1990s when the then National Disaster Task Force (NDTF) headed by Ben Mshamndane Nsibandze was established.
Chickens wandering about
Asked about the noticeable number of chickens in the yard and why she claims hunger in a ‘land of plenty', the old woman instantly replies these are sold for her to make the journey to Good Shepherd Hospital and back.
"I sell the chickens on a frequent basis and then use the money to collect my ARVs from Good Shepherd for it's quite a distance from here.
As already mentioned the long distance would be too much for me travelling on foot to hospital.
"But my chickens are now running out because of the frequent trips to the hospital. If a nearby facility or structure could be erected where I could fetch my medication, my trips to Good Shepherd would be history. I could also realise some savings for the little money could be used in purchasing bags of maize instead".
Govt. economic woes worsen things
That the elderly have not received grants as consistently experienced over the years has had a telling effect upon Gamedze and others in similar situations.
She informed this newspaper the grant ensured she purchased maize and other basic amenities for her and family.
The MP chipped in to say they had been informed elderly would receive their grants next month or thereabout.
But it would prove a tad late for Gamedze who has to live on the timphephelezi and dung for now.
Issue ought to have been laid to rest – Health ministry
Director of Health Services Dr. Simon Zwane believes Gamedze's issue was long resolved.
He said they gathered, through the regional office, that a patient living on ARVs was feeding on cow dung at Mahhuku area but this was not ongoing as far as they were concerned.
"There is a report concerning the issue you're talking about; however, it is not with me as we speak.
But my understanding is that the issue shouldn't be an ongoing concern since the regional office dealt with it. "Secondly, qualifying patients on ARVs or TB treatment are put under a programme known as food by prescription the ministry runs, funded by WFP (World Food Programme). A number of health institutions, including Good Shepherd Hospital, are enrolled under this programme.
Unfortunately it is not automatic for one to be entered into the programme; they have to qualify under set criteria such as weight measurement, etc," he said.
Dr. Zwane was not aware of the promise made by the regional team to the woman i.e. that they would make a second trip to the area. He conceded though that their programme had limitations since it only catered for the patients and not immediate family members or relatives.
This was when it was put to him that the sachets found at the Gamedze homestead were insufficient to meet the woman and son's needs.
The director of health services advised that the social welfare department be contacted to shed light if they could conduct a holistic assessment of the situation and determine whether or not they could intervene in Gamedze's circumstances.
To them the vehicle was bringing a whole lot of goodies to the homestead and they did not want to miss out.
Gamedze broke the news: "I'm certain they would be here asking for a share of the goodies or whatever you brought here once you're gone," she said wryly her face of despondency not withstanding. Gamedze's plight was first exposed by our sister newspaper, the Swazi Observer on July 20, although at the time her identity was never divulged.
She lives on cow dung taken alongside ARVs owing to her dire straits. "For me living on cow dung is not optional; my neighbours are aware of my plight and can't help as you've seen them inquisitively looking this way as you arrived. They would want to help but the poverty is deep seated here and every living soul feels it.
"Only the FPE (free primary education) programme has ensured children from this area access education, otherwise they would be roaming the area". Asked how her plight could be alleviated other than through rations from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Gamedze's face lit up. "My son, a reliable supply of water would do that as I could establish a backyard garden. I tried joining the association (Mahhuku Farmers) but couldn't last the mile as the distance from here to the farm is strenuous. They (association) are equally frustrated when it comes to accessing water for their crops.
"In addition I'm weak and cannot afford to engage in rigorous farming most of the members there do on daily basis. But I can manage a backyard garden which would require less effort and minimum supply of water". She also thinks if permanent employment could be availed for her son, estimated to be over 30 years old, they could kiss their misery goodbye.
He was employed locally as a security guard but had to quit after not being paid for two months. The son was unfortunately not around as he was reported to have left in search of piece jobs.
The issue of provision of water as a priority in the area was shared by Mandla Siphanga who noted that if this were to be availed to them, they could achieve more even with their farming undertaking.
Lugongolweni MP Joseph Souza, who was with the Weekend Observer crew on the day, reiterated that the need for a reliable water supply was an instantaneous one.
Gamedze also recently appeared on SABC 1's ‘Cutting Edge' programme where she shared her plight with them. They found her on her way to church. She says going to church ensures she doesn't become a burden unto her neighbours.
Opening up to this newspaper about her quandary, Gamedze said she long resigned herself untoher fate as help was just not forthcoming. "I grew up taking cow dung mixed with water if I had a running stomach for it alleviates this. When I began taking ARVs, which is several years ago, I continued using it because there's no food here. Even my neighbours are faced with equally difficult circumstances," she said.
Duo feeds off from timphephelezi
Not only does Gamedze lives on cow dung with her son (also on ARVs), their meal is often times one so delicate.
She and her son feed off morsels of maize (timphephelezi) taken from the nearby grinding mill.
They usually purchase these and then would eat it for weeks on ends.
Purchasing maize morsels from the grinding mill has been ongoing for the last three years and they are not about to halt it. Why?
"I wish somebody could provide me with an alternative. For now I thank World Vision Swaziland for providing some temporary relief through provision of several sachets containing rice, beans and soup – all in one. Another challenge for the Gamedzes is that they live in an almost open structure.
If a decent structure could be provided to the woman and her son, the present rondavel she sleeps in could then turn into a kitchen.
The area is amongst those in the Lowveld that have persistently experienced severe drought conditions dating back to the early 1990s when the then National Disaster Task Force (NDTF) headed by Ben Mshamndane Nsibandze was established.
Chickens wandering about
Asked about the noticeable number of chickens in the yard and why she claims hunger in a ‘land of plenty', the old woman instantly replies these are sold for her to make the journey to Good Shepherd Hospital and back.
"I sell the chickens on a frequent basis and then use the money to collect my ARVs from Good Shepherd for it's quite a distance from here.
As already mentioned the long distance would be too much for me travelling on foot to hospital.
"But my chickens are now running out because of the frequent trips to the hospital. If a nearby facility or structure could be erected where I could fetch my medication, my trips to Good Shepherd would be history. I could also realise some savings for the little money could be used in purchasing bags of maize instead".
Govt. economic woes worsen things
That the elderly have not received grants as consistently experienced over the years has had a telling effect upon Gamedze and others in similar situations.
She informed this newspaper the grant ensured she purchased maize and other basic amenities for her and family.
The MP chipped in to say they had been informed elderly would receive their grants next month or thereabout.
But it would prove a tad late for Gamedze who has to live on the timphephelezi and dung for now.
Issue ought to have been laid to rest – Health ministry
Director of Health Services Dr. Simon Zwane believes Gamedze's issue was long resolved.
He said they gathered, through the regional office, that a patient living on ARVs was feeding on cow dung at Mahhuku area but this was not ongoing as far as they were concerned.
"There is a report concerning the issue you're talking about; however, it is not with me as we speak.
But my understanding is that the issue shouldn't be an ongoing concern since the regional office dealt with it. "Secondly, qualifying patients on ARVs or TB treatment are put under a programme known as food by prescription the ministry runs, funded by WFP (World Food Programme). A number of health institutions, including Good Shepherd Hospital, are enrolled under this programme.
Unfortunately it is not automatic for one to be entered into the programme; they have to qualify under set criteria such as weight measurement, etc," he said.
Dr. Zwane was not aware of the promise made by the regional team to the woman i.e. that they would make a second trip to the area. He conceded though that their programme had limitations since it only catered for the patients and not immediate family members or relatives.
This was when it was put to him that the sachets found at the Gamedze homestead were insufficient to meet the woman and son's needs.
The director of health services advised that the social welfare department be contacted to shed light if they could conduct a holistic assessment of the situation and determine whether or not they could intervene in Gamedze's circumstances.
