Written by: Elmon Tshikhudo / Viewed: 662

Winter has yet again descended with full force, and while this means cosy nights under warm blankets for most of us, many disadvantaged elderly people from rural villages can barely afford this luxury to keep the chills out. Over the past weekend, traditional leader Vhamusanda Vho-Pfananani Shavhani of Shanzha village in the Nzhelele area once again proved his compassion for his subjects when he handed out more than 100 blankets to the elderly, marginalised and vulnerable members of his community.

This donation was just in time too, it seems, as the region experienced its lowest temperatures for the season. Shavhani, who is also a prominent local businessman, always tries to come up with ways to make his subjects happy. He is the driving force behind Shanzha Day, where the community gathers to spend the day together in festivities. He has also previously hosted pastors in his area and is currently in the process of building a clinic and skills-training centre.

The hand-over ceremony for the blankets was held at the royal palace on Saturday, 11 June, and attended by, among others, the ward councillor, vhakomas from all over the village, the royal family, as well as the Shanzha community.

The day was initially organised as a get-together for the elderly above the age of 70, but Shavhani felt that they could not just come and leave empty-handed. “The elderly form a very important component in society. They are our libraries and archives, whom we can always refer to for advice, but we tend to forget them to such an extent that they feel side-lined and lonely. Spending time with them and listening to their stories benefit us a lot as a community,” he said.

“The other thing that made us come up with the idea is that we were told that this year’s winter will be very severe and that means extra blankets will be needed for the elderly, some of whom cannot afford it. I am also a businessman and I, together with my family, decided to take a percentage from our profit to buy them blankets as an intervention against the looming cold.”

“We are extremely excited and blessed to have a leader like Shavhani who cares for his subjects. Traditional leaders are known to ask for gifts from their subjects, but he is a complete opposite as he is the one who gives. May the Lord bless whatever you touch, and you continue to bless others in return,” said granny Mpfariseni Magadani.

Vhamusanda Vho-Pfananani Shavhani and his wife, Ms Ornica Nkhangweleni Shavhani (seated in the middle), members of the royal council and the happy recipients of warm blankets. Photo: Elmon Tshikhudo.

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.