BY SAMUEL NJINGA IN MASVINGO.
Early every morning, as the shop owners open their doors to the buzz of Masvingo’s main street, a familiar sight greets them. Five homeless men, commonly believed to be mentally ill, sit or wander about on the verandah of one of the city’s largest shopping centers in Masvingo. Their presence has become part of the daily routine, a silent yet unsettling reminder of a pressing issue Masvingo is grappling with: the growing population of mentally ill individuals stranded on city streets.
These five men have transformed the chain store’s verandah into their makeshift home. Huddling together during the day and night. They just sit or relax on a bare floor without anything shielding them from morning till late. They linger on the verandah, some talking to themselves, others merely observing the bustle around them, occasionally approaching passersby to ask for food or water. For Masvingo residents and other stakeholders, their presence has sparked mixed feelings — sympathy mingled with concern.
“At first, we thought it was a passing thing,” says Wilbert Fenga, who is one of the fast growing Event Directors in the ancient city. “But it’s been almost a year now and they are increasing in numbers. At first there was just one. They just stay there, day after day. In most cases they are just quiet. Some of them simply need social support in order to gain their conscience. I think it`s high time we see organisations offering to help these lives,” he said.
Another vendor who spoke on condition of anonymity said that this was gradually becoming one of the worst eyesores in the CBD and some customers and members of the public felt uncomfortable each time that they passed through.
“Surprisingly the place is a stone’s throw away from the ZRP Masvingo headquarters, yet we have law enforcement officers negating this eye sore and so do the Masvingo Municipality officers each time that they pounce on us. At times there is a convergence of 6 or 7 of them. There is this other one who often cleans motorists` cars while others are relaxing on the floor,” said the vendor.
The plight of these five men isn’t isolated. Throughout Masvingo, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of mentally ill individuals loitering around shopping complexes, open-air markets, and bus stations with one of them being popularly known for stoning women. Society attributes this to Zimbabwe’s broader socio-economic issues, such as poverty and unemployment, which have made it increasingly challenging for families to provide care for their loved ones with mental health challenges. Without resources for rehabilitation or stable housing, many have been forced into the streets, where they are left vulnerable to harsh weather conditions, malnutrition, and the stigma associated with mental illness.
A rising crisis of mental health on the streets
Mental health experts and social workers point to a lack of infrastructure for mental health services in Masvingo and the broader region. Zimbabwe, with its stretched healthcare system, has few facilities dedicated to treating mental illness, and most of these are underfunded. The one psychiatric unit that serves the entire province and nation at Ngomahuru often has long wait times and limited resources, leaving many of them untreated and even suffering further.
Psychiatric Medical Superintendent for Ngomahuru, Dr Parirenyatwa Maramba said, “It’s heartbreaking to see people in such a state, wandering the streets without care. This issue is triggered by many reasons apart from drug abuse. The shrink in the economy has resulted in difficulties in getting the drugs. Psycho-social support is very crucial especially in buying medication and encouraging uptake,” he said.
Community concerns and safety issues
While some community members have stepped forward to offer food, old clothing, and the occasional spare change, others express fears about safety, especially as some of these individuals show erratic behavior. Cases of verbal outbursts have been reported, creating an air of unease for families and business owners nearby.
“For our children and customers, it’s not always safe,” explains Violet Machena, a mother of two. “But what can we do? There’s nowhere else for these people to go. It feels like the city has abandoned them, and in a way, abandoned us, too.”
Efforts to find Solutions
Masvingo’s local council and police department are aware of the situation. However, solutions remain elusive. Psychiatric experts point out that addressing the issue goes beyond simply removing these individuals from the streets. Without access to psychiatric care, rehabilitation, and long-term housing options, the problem will persist.
ZRP Masvingo acting spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Masauso Patinyu, said that they will make efforts to make sure that they have cleared these people. He further indicated that it is the local authorities and the social welfare department who should be dealing with this issue. Meanwhile Assistant Inspector Patinyu is appealing for relatives with some of these people to help in removing them from the streets of the ancient city.
When interrogated by this reporter concerning the issue, Masvingo Provincial Social Welfare Officer, Mr Stancilous Sanyangore, dissociated his Ministry from the responsibility, “You can ask the Ministry of Health. It is the one responsible for that. I am busy. Will call you,” said Sanyangore, before banging down his mobile.
A Community in Need of Compassion
The five men outside the popular chain store and others like them across Masvingo are a visible reflection of a society in need of compassion and support. Their presence raises questions about what it means to be part of a community. As Zimbabwe faces growing economic and drug abuse challenges, the burden on local communities to care for their most vulnerable members becomes more acute.
As the day winds down, the five men huddle together once again on the verandah, their tired eyes watching the world move on without them. They are a reminder that mental health and homelessness are complex issues, needing a community-wide approach — and more importantly, empathy and understanding from a city that is still learning how to care for its most forgotten residents.
Conclusion
Masvingo’s situation echoes a larger, national problem: how to care for those society has forgotten. The increasing numbers of mentally ill and homeless individuals on the streets is a call for urgent action, not just from local authorities but from all Zimbabweans. The question remains: how long will the country allow its people, suffering in silence, to remain stranded at the margins of society?