Previously Conjoined Zimbabwean Twins Get Successful Fundraiser In Toronto
FreeAfrica (May 24, 2005)

In a remarkable and successful fundraising dinner/dance event for the continued good health of Zimbabwe’s previously conjoined twins Tinashe and Tinotenda, another amazing development that could be witnessed was the joy in people’s eyes as they looked on the happy twins now living happy separate lives. The event which took place at the Sam Sorbara Hall, University of St. Michaels College in downtown Toronto and lasted from about 7:30pm on Saturday May 21, till about 12:30am Sunday brought together people from all walks of life. There was tremendous support, also given by members of non-Zimbabwean communities some of whom even without sending guests to the event preferred to purchase admission tickets just as a way of supporting the good cause –– the Kenyan Community In Ontario became an example in this instance with purchases/sponsorships of at least 4 tickets while only one of its members could be officially present for the event. Also seen at the event was Mr Raymond Micah, the ever-tireless Executive Director of the African Canadian Social Development Council (ACSDC, a 64-member umbrella organization dedicated to the development and support of African-Canadian non-profit organizations in Canada). In a brief interview with FreeAfrica, Mr. Micah expressed the council’s strongest support and well wishes for the healing and sustained good health of the twins, Tinashe and Tinotenda Mufuka.

Tinashe and Tinotenda, who were joined at the abdomen, were born in July 2004, in Zimbabwe and were accompanied to Toronto by their mother Elizabeth Mufuka and a nurse, Grace Chirinda. The Zimbabwean pair are the tenth set of conjoined twins to be treated at the Hospital for Sick Children. They arrived at the hospital on December 2, 2004 from Zimbabwe.

Ms Margaret Zondo, one of the co-organizers of the magnificent event (themed: “Any Child Is My Child”) told FreeAfrica in a brief telephone interview that at least $10, 000 CAN could have been raised from the event though an exact figure could not be confirmed at the time of the interview. Ms Zondo further expressed utmost happiness about the apparent unity and togetherness that the event attempted the encourage within the largely divided Zimbabwean community; divided mainly along tribal lines between the Ndebele people and the Shona people who because of Zimbabwe’s Mugabe and his Zanu P.F. party segregation policies dating back from the early 1980s massacres of the Ndebele people by Mugabe’s government, have never really seen eye to eye. She did however mention that even dispite the success of the event in attendance, there was still skepticism about the orientation of attendance, as it was still seen by some Zimbabwean community members in Canada as mainly, a Shona event.

With all the above said, FreeAfrica expresses its greatest well wishes to the twins and the family of the twins and we all hope that their health will continue to improve with time. FreeAfrica contributed a Silent Auction fundraiser to the event and managed to raise at least about $60 on behalf of the twins.

All Proceeds from the event were donated to the Herbie Fund, which funded the surgery of the Zimbabwean twins. The Herbie Fund has helped more than 450 children from over 80 countries come to Sick Kids for specialized medical care that is not available in their home country. The number of children the hospital is able to help depends entirely on the amount of money donated to the Herbie Fund. Ms Tess Samuel, the Senior Development Officer for the Sick Kids Foundation was also present at the fundraising event. She gave a briefing about the Hospital’s work around the world and also the hospital’s involvement and commitment to helping the twins Tinashe and Tinotenda.

The presense of Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Canada, Mr. Gabriel Machinga at this good event couldn’t have been anything less than nerve wrecking for sensitive Zimbabweans present at the event, most of whom have been displaced from Zimbabwe as refugees by Mr. Machinga’s Mugabe government which stands and continues accussed of gross violations against human rights including/and specifically, Children’s Rights.