Zimbabwe: Mutemwa leprosy centre receives pandemic emergency relief

John Bradburne with residents at Mutemwa - image with kind permission of JBMS

Source: SFLG

St Francis Leprosy Guild (SFLG) has announced that it will be supporting the Mutemwa Leprosy Care Centre in Mutoko, Zimbabwe. In addition to a share of £60,000 Covid-19 pandemic emergency relief, SFLG will provide a new solar pump and fund the repair of crucial water supply pipework.

The water is sourced from the Mother of Peace Orphanage dam next to the Leprosy Care Centre. The supply is used for irrigation and maintenance of the gardens, vegetable and flower production and supplying water to the pigs, cattle, chickens, and other livestock.

Mutemwa (meaning outcast in local Shona language) is a well-established and highly regarded leprosy care centre. It is home to more than 50 elderly residents, people affected by leprosy, leprosy disability and who are outcast from society. Mutemwa sees around one thousand outpatients per year and supports others who are homeless and destitute.

The centre provides physical, material, psychological and emotional care to post-leprosy sufferers, the physically and mentally challenged and the destitute. It is working towards self-sufficiency through farming, rearing poultry, pigs and cattle and a shop.

"How could we not help?" said SFLG Chief Executive Officer, Clare McIntosh. "People with leprosy are so often abandoned by society. With no social services, a diagnosis of leprosy often means a life of begging on the streets to survive."

Clare McIntosh added: "At an age when many people in developed countries are enjoying their retirement, older people with leprosy face some horrific challenges. I am just glad that SLFG can make a difference and that is thanks to the generosity of our donors."

Mutemwa is often known for the astonishing life its former warden, John Bradburne.

"I believe John was a huge inspiration, not only to the Mutemwa community but far afield and beyond. His stoic determination to "stay put" at Mutemwa, while continuing his daily tasks of caring for his friends physically, emotionally and spiritually with kindness and compassion was brave and inspiring" said Teresa Yonge, John Bradburne's niece.

"His refusal to abandon those living with leprosy at Mutemwa, while the civil war of independence was raging throughout the Mutoko area, must have made those at Mutemwa feel valued, loved and protected in some way. John was simply continuing the way forward, through his steadfast faith, following Jesus' example of unconditional love."

"The Mutemwa residents and The John Bradburne Memorial Society would like to give a huge thank you to the SFLG supporters for their generosity in helping support the lives of those living at Mutemwa Leprosy Care Centre today. Your kindness helps with food bills, shelter expenses, medication and provides vital clean water at a time of great need to some of the world's most marginalised and impoverished people. "

"May we all strive to become more aware of those in need especially the poor, sick and vulnerable, including those who are stigmatised and abandoned in society just like St Francis of Assisi and John Bradburne "Servant of God" did too, Shalom."

Norfolk schoolboy, World War II Gurkha hero and PoW, John Bradburne, was warden at the Mutemwa Leprosy Colony when he was caught up in the Rhodesian Bush War in 1979. Refusing to abandon the colony and despite being given the opportunity to escape by his captors, he was murdered at the age of 58 and buried, in his habit, outside the capital city Salisbury, now Harare. The centenary of his birthday, 14 June 2021, is currently being celebrated.

Mourners at his funeral said they saw drops of blood beneath his coffin despite no blood being found inside, as a miraculous sign and evidence for his canonization. With the support of the Archbishop of Harare, the Most Reverend Robert Ndlovu, the Beatification process for John Bradburne is in the initial stages. John is now recognised as "Servant of God."

John Bradburne was the son of an Anglican rector and he converted to Catholicism in 1947. He was reported to have said he had only three wishes: to help people affected by leprosy, die a martyr, and be buried in a habit of the Franciscan order.

LINKS

St Francis Leprosy Guild: www.stfrancisleprosy.org
John Bradburne Memorial Society: www.johnbradburne.com