Lahliwe gets new house from Scalisa, NDMA
MANKAYANE – Lahliwe Nkambule, a 69-yearold woman of Musi in Mankayane, couldn’t believe her eyes when a new house was handed over to her on Friday.
Without a decent house for a long time as she lived in a dilapidated flat, Scalisa Foundation and the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) had to come to her rescue.
Her home exposed her to health hazards. She lived there with six grandchildren, the youngest being three years old.
The stick-and-mud flat was close to collapsing. There was fear it could collapse on them.
Members of the community raised the alarm and the two organisations responded swiftly. She could not hold back tears when the house was officially handed over to her.
NEW SHELTER
The cost of the new shelter is E65 000. A new toilet was also built for her.
Nkambule becomes one of the many beneficiaries who the foundation has assisted since its inception.
Speaking on behalf of Senator Tony Scalisa Sibandze, the founder of the charity organisation, was Pastor Mbongiseni Ndzinisa who thanked the community of Musi for their assistance in the identification of Nkambule.
The pastor said her living conditions were what the mandate of the foundation sought to address.
“We are a foundation that is built on godly values and provide housing projects for the elderly so that they live in a supported way,” Pastor Ndzinisa said.
He apologised for the absence of the senator as he was away on official national duties, but emphasised that he was with Lahliwe in spirit and congratulated her in absentia on being the recipient of these two structures.
The event ended on a very high note with singing and dancing from community members as they shared their happiness in being recognised and helping one of their own.
Present was the Indvuna yenkhundla who was identified as Make Motsa and the area’s traditional structure was represented by Peter Sigudla. The traditional authority welcomed the foundation and NDMA on behalf of the chief, thanking them for the wonderful work they had done for the needy woman.
“There are a lot of community members who are in need in the area and the traditional authority is praying to God that organisations such as yours may assist in the near future” Sigudla said.
This is the third house that Scalisa Foundation has built in collaboration with NDMA.
APPRECIATION
In absentia, Senator Sibandze, the founder, expressed appreciation to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), the line ministry for NDMA, for its massive contribution to the country’s social assistance programme.
The current DPM is Themba Masuku. Sibandze also appreciated the enabling environment created by the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini for foundations and charity organisations alongside individuals, churches, NGOs to feel free in extending help to their fellow needy citizens.
On another note, Scalisa Foundation members presented to Senator Tony Sibandze a congratulatory cake for his appointment as Rapporteur for the Pan African Parliament (PAP) committee on Finance and Monetary Affairs.
The cake was cut on his behalf by Lahliwe at the request of the senator and it was then shared by all who attended the event.