Old, crawling and home alone

One of Botswana’s VISION 2016 pillars of a caring and a compassionate nation has eluded 76 year old Gaboutwelwe Nthomiwa of Sebina village as she finds herself crawling around her house and yard without anyone noticing her desperate situation.

Nthomiwa, who was affected by polio in both legs as a young girl, now desperately needs a wheelchair to help her get around her house. Her condition was compounded some two years ago when she fell after a misstep.

This paralysed her legs rendering them unable to carry her any more. Nthomiwa can only move from one place to another by way of crawling. This makes it close to impossible for her to sweep her house, bathe herself or wash her clothes.

As if that is not enough, her only son and child died some years back depriving her of a companion to care for her. “I grew up with my disability. It was however not a handicap as I walked around with the aid of crutches. I also ran a tailor business specialising in sewing school uniforms and different types of clothes for both men and women. My disability never gave me any problems until I accidentally tripped and fell two years ago, “she said.

Things have never been the same since that fateful fall. Her only source of income is the old age pension or tandabala. If she had a source of income, she would hire a maid. “It’s been some time since I last took a bath because to do that I need somebody around to fetch water for me. If only I had a wheelchair, things would be better as I would be able to move around and do my daily chores in the yard.

I am grateful though that the Sebina chief has shown a lot of concern and care for me because, time and again, he and his family send someone to give me food since cooking for myself has become difficult.”

Even fetching water from the tap inside the yard has become a burden for Nthomiwa. “As far as I am concerned, a wheelchair would definitely end my current woes,” she said.

An investigation by The Midweek Sun has established that the old woman is not getting the recently introduced disability allowance like any other disabled people. When asked to produce a food ration card for destitute people, Nthomiwa said that she does not have one. She revealed that only once did she get a bag of 12.5kg mealie meal and a chunk of meat from a local retailer shop.

“That piece of meat you see spread on my cooking stove is all that I have been given each month for the past two months,” said Nthomiwa who revealed that  all her close relatives live in Mafungo village.

Tutume Sub-district public relations officer Gaamogwe Nfila was in the dark about Nthomiwa’s desperation, saying she can only be aware of a case which has been registered with the council social workers. “I will make an official investigation and inquiry into her situation so that she can be assisted if she qualifies after a thorough assessment by our social workers,” she said.