Zimbabwe: One woman’s mission to restore dignity in Hwange’s forgotten households

In Hwange’s Lwendulu Village, a powerful story of compassion and community restoration is unfolding led by Ward 9 Councillor, Rhoda Sibanda of Hwange Local Board. Known simply as “Rhoda” by many residents, she has become a beacon of hope for elderly and vulnerable households who had long been living in silence, poverty, and isolation. 

Councillor Sibanda’s journey began with a simple but profound observation: elderly citizens under her ward were living in squalid conditions, many unable to feed themselves or access basic healthcare. Moved by what she saw, she described the moment as a calling. 
“To me, giving to the needy is more of a calling. I was touched by the squalid conditions which some of the elderly in my ward were living under, and I decided to mobilise donations from well-wishers so that we could assist them,” she explained. 

With the support of the Ward 9 Junior Councillor, Kgosto Karabo Nare, she launched a grassroots charity initiative to restore dignity and wellbeing to the elderly. Using donations sourced from community members and philanthropic partners, she distributed groceries, household commodities, and cash to four septuagenarians one of whom is chronically ill. 
Her goal was not only to feed them, but to revive their sense of belonging. 
“It should be a moral duty for everyone to care for those who are less fortunate and who are struggling to meet their basic needs,” she said.  

The beneficiaries felt this impact deeply. For Noel Munsaka, the Councillor’s intervention was life-changing. “The Councillor played a pivotal role in transforming my life by facilitating my access to assistance from the Department of Social Welfare. Before her intervention, I had been struggling to put food on the table and meet my basic needs,” he shared. 

Another community member, Luke Phiri, had long felt invisible an elderly man with no relatives nearby, living alone and losing hope. That changed the day Councillor Sibanda visited with groceries. “Prior to the Councillor’s visit to deliver groceries, I felt like an outcast in the community. However, ever since that visit, many people have started reaching out to me, offering their support and donating various items. I now feel a renewed sense of belonging and care,” he said.  

Catherine Mudimba, who is advanced in age and often unwell, described how healthcare became accessible through the Councillor’s efforts. “The Councillor has been extremely helpful in ensuring I receive proper health care. She arranged for Community Health Care volunteers to check on me regularly, which has greatly improved my well-being,” she said. 

But Councillor Sibanda’s vision extends beyond once-off donations. She is building a culture of giving one that strengthens social bonds, encourages mutual support, and empowers the community to care for its own. She has mobilised households to contribute US$1 each toward the purchase of kitchen utensils for use during funerals, shifting from personal to community-owned resources to ensure sustainability. “We now want to take a more sustainable route,” she said. She also emphasised the importance of emotional wellbeing for elders. 
“Loneliness and social isolation can significantly impact the mental health of senior citizens. As individuals grow older, maintaining social connections becomes increasingly important for their overall well-being,” she noted.  

Her work has inspired the involvement of humanitarian organisations, government departments such as Social Welfare, and local healthcare providers extending support beyond emergency aid to long-term social protection. Through her leadership, the community has become better organised, more empathetic, and more proactive in identifying vulnerable households and supporting them. The change is visible: community compassion has grown, elderly residents now experience consistent support, and Hwange Local Board has gained more insight into household-level needs.  

 By: Sindiso Mhlanga