A 52-year-old widow of Zingalume Township in Lusaka’s Matero Constituency is desperately seeking assistance to return back to her village in Mansa District, Luapula Province.

Annie Mwila, says her decision to relocate has been arrived at following her one-week eviction notice from an incomplete building by the owner, where she has been staying as a caretaker since 2020.

Ms Mwila explains that the agreement with the owner of the building was that she occupies the incomplete building while the owner is still mobilising resources and building materials.

Speaking to ZANIS in an interview, she explains that she is unable to raise the money to relocate her family to Mansa because she only depends on piece work for her daily feeding, and at times relies on the kindness of the community.

“Seeing that the owner wants us to vacate this house, I have no objection except the money I raise from piece works is what I have been using to buy medication for my 35-year-old daughter who is intellectually disabled,” she explains.

Ms Mwila narrates that her stay in Lusaka the past four years has been challenging because she is also looking after another daughter who underwent an abdominal operation.

She is appealing to well-wishers to come to her rescue and assist her to relocate her family to her village in Mansa where she feels she will settle in well. 

“I am grateful to the support of the community for the assistance rendered to me and my family all these years, especially the time I lost my grandson. If not for the community’s assistance, I would not have managed to bury my son,” she says..

Barlastone Zone Leader Mate Nawa is also appealing to the government and other well-wishers to look into Ms Mwila and her family plight. 

Mr Nawa explains that currently the family has no food and money hence the need for the public to come to their aid.