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Ricky Zililo in Binga

THE country’s first black athlete to compete at the Olympics, Robson Mulombe is appealing for assistance from well-wishers as he is living in abject poverty at his Binga home.

On Saturday, a Chronicle Sports crew visited Mulombe, who represented the then Southern Rhodesia at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics as a 19-year-old competing in the marathon and found the frail-looking Mulombe seated underneath a barn at his homestead with his wife Sarah Muleya.

He is now 77 years old. The Olympian, who is adored in Binga, said due to his old age, he no longer goes to the Zambezi River to “poach” fish, something he had been doing in the past to fend for his family.

He can’t keep up with the rangers hence his decision to sit at home while his wife makes baskets she sells for survival. The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) gave Mulombe a ray of hope when they presented him with a grinding mill on the sidelines of the Binga Kasambabezi Marathon in October but the Olympia hasn’t been able to use it.

He sees the grinding mill that will serve the community of Bulawayo Kraal as his way out of his miserable life.

“Things are bad for us. We’re struggling to make ends meet and with my age, I can’t provide for my family which hurts. As a man, you always want to provide for the family. I’m appealing for assistance from well-wishers. At times we go for two days without food.

“I’m grateful to ZOC for the grinding mill, but as it stands, there’s nothing that I can do with it. I need oil and diesel to kick-start the project.

“If I had chickens, goats or cattle, I could have sold them so that this machine works. To be honest, I’m clueless as to where I can get money to start operating the grinding mill,” said Mulombe.

The Olympian also needs a shed for the grinding mill and it must be fixed on a concrete floor for it to operate. The grinding mill has to be mounted on a slab, meaning Mulombe needs cement for the concrete slab as well as roofing sheets.

At the moment, a neighbour temporarily gave him four rooging sheets which he will take back when he needs them.

The present structure partly protects the machine, with the other part covered with plastic and sacks. Clearly hopeless, Mulombe also desires to complete the three huts at his homestead.

“I’m always sitting here waiting and wondering when I’ll join my ancestors. Before I leave this earth, my wish is to have that hut (pointing to a round hut without a roof) finished.

“I also need to sort out these two other huts which were not roofed properly. Now it’s the rainy season and when it rains water gets inside the two huts.

“Besides appealing for the grinding mill start-up money, I’m also asking for help to complete these huts so that I have a decent home,” Mulombe said.

Those willing to assist Mulombe can contact him on 0784044203 or 0787248242. — @ZililoR