WINDHOEK – Good samaritans came to the aid of disabled 9-year-old Fidelis Mutumbulwa, through a donation of blankets, food items and other essentials. The gesture of goodwill was occassioned by a report carried in New Era a week ago about 35-year-old Merania Emmanuel and her disabled son Mutumbulwa. Emmanuel, a single mother, makes a living from selling ‘kapana’ to augument the N$200 monthly social grant from the government to take care of the needs of her disabled son.
This week two Good Samaritans showed Emmanuel and her son kindness at their humble residence in the Havana informal settlement. One bought household essentials worth N$300, while another presented them with N$110 in cash. The councillor of the Moses //Garoëb constituency, Martin David, also chipped in by donating two blankets and basic food items such as cooking oil, peas, and maize meal. “I am grateful because I did not think I would get anything. I thank God for everyone who gave to us and may God reward them just as they gave to us,” said Emmanuel. In the story Emmanuel gave a detailed account of their daily struggle for survival, and the sacrifices she has to make, sometimes leaving her sone alone at home while she hawks her merchandise in the streets. Mutumbulwa was born with a swelling on the forehead, a condition called hydrocephalus, in which the head grows big. Hydrocephalus is caused by an imbalance between how much cerebrospinal fluid is produced and how much is absorbed in the bloodstream.
Councillor David said the constituency office has identified a number of other people with disabilities within the constituency, who should be benefiting from the income generating projects run by the constituency office. “I told her to come [to the constituency office] whenever she does not have food in her house,” said David. Unlike many normal children, Mutumbulwa depends heavily on his mother to care for him. This is because the 9-year-old boy’s condition left him physically and mentally challenged. “The swelling on the forehead had water in it and so doctors operated on him when he was four months old. At the age of five, doctors operated on him again,” said Emmanuel. “Two hundred dollars is little. I have to feed him, I have to care for him, I have to buy him nappies so I sell ‘kapana’ to supplement the disability grant,” Emmanuel says. The money she earns from selling kapana is more often than not insufficient to last them the whole month.
By Alvine Kapitako