By PASSY HAACHIZO –

A VISIT to Makululu community in Kabwe in Bwacha Constituency evokes sympathy for the thousand souls who live in the shanty township that needs attention from authorities.
The structures that pass for houses here are dilapidated and in need of repair since they pose a health and safety hazards to occupants.
Makululu, which is probably the largest shanty township in Zambia is doubly disadvantaged since it is located in a town that once thrived economically.
With the deterioration of the mining industry turning Kabwe almost into a ‘ghost town’ the 60,000 people in the township have to scrounge for a living.
Like several other shanty townships in Zambia, 24 per cent of adults in Makululu are infected by the HIV/AIDS virus, while over one in four children are orphaned.
Here children struggle to survive, let alone gain an education by doing piece work to make ends meet.
Needless to say there is high level of poverty which usually leads to chronic starvation that affects the children’s motivation and attention in school.
Schools around this area attract few qualified teachers because residents don’t have means to pay them well.
The children are also highly demotivated as they see a record number of their friends and relatives becoming orphaned or widowed.
This helplessness has attracted Habitat for Human Zambia (HHZ), Samsung and Ray Hand Foundation (RHF) to quickly lay a new foundation of hope for the inhabitants.
The trio has merged and engaged each other in some projects such as building 18 houses for selected individuals under a given qualification.
Patrick Mulenga and Moses Mapande both a bit older than mother Zambia as they were all born before the country got independence in 1964 are among the beneficiaries.
They are also among residents thriving under tough conditions in this location and for a long time they had no hope of having new houses to live in.
More than five beneficiaries talked to cited Luanshya as their original home.
“I have been in Makululu for the past 46 years but my original home is Luanshya. Ever since I came here, I have never gone anywhere else,” explained Patrick Mulenga.
According to Mr Mulenga he has encountered a lot of challenges since he left school ending up to form two in Luanshya in 1975, (grade nine of the present day).
Mr Mulenga who is a widower is responsible for the upkeep of his children since his wife Fetser Mwelwa died many years ago.
However, this cannot compare with (TB) that attacked him some years back.
“I used to be in employment with ZAMEFA for five years and served as a salesman before I was struck down by Tuberculosis in 1990 and ever since I could not do anything about my illness, which led to my dismissal on health grounds,” he recounted.
Mr Mulenga narrated that he had never thought that his life would be the same again but the coming in of the three charity organisations was a plus that made his life begin to make sense once again.
Coincidentally, Moses Mapande has a similar tale but with a more modified stamina due to the fact that he does not have any sound background of a white collar job because he never went to school.
Mr Mapande,57, and a father of 12 children with Grace Mumba 46 has been struggling to make ends meet. All his children don’t go to school.
He explains that he could not even remember the year he left Luanshya and that the only thing he remembers is that he is in Kabwe.
“I used to feel some headache and what I thought was mere headache finally became Tuberculosis from there I could not support myself any longer,” said Mr Mapande.
Mr Mapande, the coming of the charity organisations was welcome to the community and he was glad that he is one of the first beneficiaries.
“We were not biased when choosing the people to start building the houses with as  we first of all had to carry out a research on which people were affected the most and had their own land with title deeds in case of any possible legal complication,” explained RHF Resource Mobiliser, Tecklinah Munkombwe.
Ms Munkombwe said although the three organisations had aimed at helping the less-privileged in Kabwe, it was not the only project under method as more was yet to be done in other areas and in different categories.
RHF executive member, Brevion Mukokan said his organisation has assisted widows and vulnerable member of the community.
“We assist them with nutrition, support them with blankets and many other assorted goods, provided they meet the qualifications,” said Mr Mukokan.
Samsung communications manger, Linda Sikana said her organisation had partnered with RHF and HHZ as they had similar priorities.
“You see, we are not going to split we will ensure that we work with our colleagues as we had one agenda and that is to help the less privileged,” said Ms Sikana with a cheerful tone.
Samsung Business and IT manager, Kafuta Mulemba said that the only way his company could give back to the community was by helping the less privileged in the community.
“As Habitat for Humanity Zambia we want to help the less privileged in society. This is the reason we have partnered with our friends who will give us more strength in assisting those in need,” said HHZ national accountant, Feelings Musonda.
Ms Musonda said she had always thought of helping the less privileged in the community and now that the time had come it was worthy doing it.
According to HHZ board member, Irene Musonda her organisation was a Christian based and those that had received the gesture had the right to guard it jealously as it was from God.
Deputy Minister of Education, Sidney Mushanga said there was need for other well-wishers to come on board and assist those who could not afford a beeter living.
“You can see from the time you elected me as your member of Parliament I have been working tirelessly. My appeal goes to other charity organisations to come on board and help people in Makululu which has more people in my constituency,” said Mr Mushanga.
The three organisations have really made an impact on the vulnerable in society calling for support from other stakeholders.