LET’S SPARE A THOUGHT FOR VAGABONDS

Sir,

Last week Wednesday’s edition of the Times of Eswatini newspaper carried a very touching story headlined “Homeless ‘Ankel’ found dead”.
The slang word- ‘ankel’, is respectfully used by the youths to address adult males like yours truly.

The article narrated how the late Nathi Eushaba was found unresponsive on the veranda of one of the buildings along the main Jacaranda Street in Siteki Town, Lubombo Region. It is said he relied on food hand-outs from the town’s vendors, as well as from leftovers he sourced from some eateries around town. Like most of these vagabonds and destitute poor souls, they make a living by doing odd and menial jobs, occasionally scavenging for food in the towns’ refuse bins.

Suspicions are rife that the late Nathi might have ingested poisoned expired foodstuff from the refuse bins, which might have contributed to his death. A post-mortem will only be conducted if his family gives consent.
Some of us may have cursory glanced at the article, shrugged their shoulders and moved on to ‘appealing’ articles, but the inquisitive and empathic me read on with mounting sadness.

I have in the past written articles raising my concerns at the plight of these homeless vagabonds who are found roaming the city streets, with barely any decent clothing covering their malnourished and sun-scorched bodies.
I even took pictures of one of them walking almost naked, nonchalantly scavenging for food in the city’s refuse bins, posted them on social media towards the festive season last year imploring the populace to spare a thought for these abandoned souls, who had no delicacies to eat during the festive season. In one of my articles, I implored our government to do something about providing some kind of shelter for the homeless. 

They are human like us, also created in the likeness of our loving God and deserve caring for, just like those destitute bogogo and bomkhulu we always read of being built shelters by concerned social partners. Why discriminate against these scavengers? I have asked countless times before and will continue asking?

conditions

It always renders my heart when on my way home from work in the wee hours of the early morning to walk past some of these scavengers sleeping on pavements, rolled themselves into a ball in a desperate attempt to ward of hostile weather conditions with barely anything to cover their bodies in the chilly, biting and bitter winter nights and mornings. Some use pieces of discarded cardboard boxes as mattresses and blankets.

As a nation that is under a civil authority, can we please rally together and do something for these forgotten citizens who are also the face of our urban areas? I know some in our society give them alms in the form of money and food, which I applaud.
But can as a nation, go a step further by mobilising ourselves and donate something that will enable a decent home for the homeless to be built? Some of these unsung heroes entertain us with their hilarious jokes, gestures, funny walks, and etcetera. Can we not give back as society and do something for them?

I always ask myself if they have any surviving relatives back from wherever they came from. Some die lonely and painful deaths are buried as paupers - end of the story. They become part of the statistics - period. Whenever I see these poor souls roaming the streets and foraging in refuse bags and bins, I am always reminded of a verse in Proverbs 22:19 that says:  “A generous man will himself be blessed for he shares his food with the poor...”

But the one parable our Saviour told his disciples about the importance of being our brother’s keeper is none other than the famous story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37, who took care of a man who was left for dead by robbers after being neglected by many passers-by, including a priest.

It is a fact that some of us cross to the other side of the street to avoid meeting these vagabonds roaming the streets of our towns. Granted, some have the propensity of being violent or aggressive. All the same, let us thrive as part of God’s creation, to lend a helping hand to these poor souls.

Nathi Eushaba may have been neglected, avoided by others; he is gone to the world yonder, but do not be surprised to see him and many of his ilk, who were derided, despised and shied away from by the privileged and the sane in the front of the queue during resurrection where each one of us will finally get our reward for whatever we did - good or bad - while on this earth. May his soul rest in peace! Shalom!

Alex Nxumalo 76058449

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