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Midlands Correspondent
A senior Government doctor for Midlands Province left wheelchair-bound after a road traffic accident, had her dream of walking again come closer to realisation yesterday when she received money from a well-wisher to buy air-tickets to travel to China for a restorative operation.

Midlands deputy provincial medical director Dr Mary Machekeza, who is also the provincial epidemiology and disease control officer, sustained severe back injuries after she was involved in the road accident along the Kwekwe-Gweru Road in July last year.

She was pregnant at the time and had to deliver through a caesarean section after her spinal cord was damaged.

Dr Machekeza received $2 000 from Wezhira Ndionewo Trust Fund founder and Chivi Rural District Council chairman, Cde Killer Zivhu, for airtickets to enable her to travel to Puhua International Hospital in Beijing.

She will undergo a stem-cell treatment surgery at the hospital to correct the defects on her spinal cord.

Dr Machekeza managed to raise $37 600 required for surgery and treatment from well-wishers and colleagues, but was stuck for months as she could not raise funds for the air-tickets.

Speaking at the donation in Gweru, Cde Zivhu said he was approached by Dr Machekeza’s relatives seeking airtickets for her and her mother, Mrs Sandra Machekeza, to travel to China.

“We have helped Dr Machekeza under the Wezhira Ndiwonewo programme which helps underprivileged people and others in need,” he said. “Dr Machekeza, though she is based in the Midlands, is a specialist who helps a lot of people from other parts of the country.

“Our party Zanu-PF is a revolutionary party whose selfless cadres sacrificed their lives to liberate the country. It is our duty, those who were born after independence, to reciprocate those sacrifices with the little that we have to help those that are in need.”

Cde Zivhu said his organisation had launched a vigorous campaign to raise more money for Dr Machekeza’s successful treatment.

Midlands provincial medical director, Dr Milton Chemhuru expressed gratitude towards Cde Zivhu’s kind gesture.

“Dr Machekeza was involved in an accident in July last year and was seriously injured,” he said. “She needed over $37 000 to undergo an operation on her spinal cord in China. She managed to raise the money, but was left without the air fare.

“We are grateful that Mr Zivhu has chipped in and provided assistance in the form of airtickets,” said Dr Chemhuru.