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Some of the street kids who attended a christmas party at the Small City Hall in Bulawayo on Tuesday

Prince Sunduzani, Chronicle Reporter
BULAWAYO street children have said they face hard times living on the streets, a situation that has forced them to resort to abusing drugs to help them cope with the challenges.

In interviews with The Chronicle at a Christmas party hosted for them by Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo at the Small City Hall on Tuesday, the street children said they are not on the streets by choice.

Money to host the party came from the Mayor’s Cheer Fund as well as contributions from the Mahamba family from Bulawayo.

This year’s Mayor’s Cheer Fund managed to raise a total of $32 000 in cash and kind up from last year’s $15 000.

Over 30 street children rounded up from around the city attended the colourful event.

“The streets are very hard. as for me I have no parents and my relatives want nothing to do with me. Sometimes we go hungry and spend the whole day without eating anything. Drugs help us deal with those issues, we use glue and these cheap hot stuffs. The substance abuse gives us the courage to beg and to also eat off the bins,” said one street kid.

Another one who has lived on the streets for three years said: “Members of society sometimes view us as criminals or think we chose to be on the streets.

We are not here by choice and in actual fact some of the guys you see on the streets are talented but just lack opportunities. To members of society, I’m saying not all of us are criminals and I thank Mama (Mrs Flora Mahamba) for showing us love this festive season.”

Cllr Moyo said the Bulawayo City Council is committed to improving the plight of orphans and vulnerable children and will continue to work to ensure a brighter future for them.

In a speech read on his behalf by BCC senior public relations officer Mrs Nesisa Mpofu at the Christmas party, the mayor said the local authority has been holding stakeholder meetings to address problems faced by disadvantaged children.

He said a survey to identify the challenges they face is being conducted.

“It takes a village to bring up a child. As the city of Bulawayo we are an integral part of a multi-sectoral body that seeks to address the plight of orphans and vulnerable children. Our desire as Bulawayo is to alleviate the plight of such children as well as children on the street who resort to activities such as begging and car washing,” said Cllr Moyo.

Mrs Mahamba said she felt the need to organise the party for the children as she too experienced challenges when she was growing up.

“Your current situation is not your final destination. Don’t allow the current situation to define that you are nobody. You are a child of the most high God and he loves you as you are. You should continue fighting for better opportunities as you said that you have talents,” she said.

@PrinceNkosy102