On 04.01.2006 at 23:21, I posted the following article on imc-uk
under the topics, Health, Social Struggles, Workers’ Movements, London, World:

Girl seeks help to undergo surgery
THE family of six-year-old Blessing Mutengwa is appealing for assistance to raise 60 000 rand (about $840 million) to undergo heart surgery in South Africa.

According to a report in The Zimbabwe Herald (January 5 2006), Blessing suffers from a life-threatening congenital heart disease.

The disease was diagnosed in September last year.

"She has a big heart which is not functioning well together with an arterial septal defect and has a leaking valve (mitral regurgitation).

She needs to be operated on as a matter of urgency," said Dr G Chimhini of Harare Central Hospital.

The operation cannot be performed in Zimbabwe.

Her father, Mr Ananias Mutengwa, said the family could not raise the required amount on its own.

"I am self-employed and cannot raise the required amount in foreign currency and so I am appealing to well-wishers to assist us to raise the money.

"As the doctor said, the operation needs to be done as a matter of urgency so that she has a normal life," said Mr Mutengwa.

She plays with others but tires easily and breathes heavily.

People wishing to assist can deposit the money into a CABS bank account number 9012536651 or phone mobile number 0026311873172 or bring or post the donation to House Number 1063 Kuwadzana 1, Harare, Zimbabwe.

On 05.01.2006 at 00:27, a comment was posted in response to my contribution. The comment carried the slogan, “Beware Internet Scams” and read:

While this article may link to something that appears to be a newspaper, it may well be nothing more than an elaborate scam,very very easy on the internet.

This 'article' should be removed.

My contribution was subsequently “hidden” because it “breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.”

To me, Indymedia UK is still a network of individuals, independent and alternative media activists and organisations, offering grassroots, non-corporate, non-commercial coverage of important social and political issues. It is therefore irresponsible for imc-uk administrators to condemn my contribution as an “elaborate scam” without making any attempt to check the authenticity of its contents.

Zimbabwe is currently facing the world's fastest rise in child mortality, due to the AIDS pandemic, severe droughts, human rights violations and lack of foreign investment and support.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) reports that Zimbabwean parents now register 1 death for every 8 births and that a child dies every 15 minutes due in Zimbabwe.

My concern is that if Blessing Mutengwa’s parents fail to raise the 60 000 rands they need to pay for Blessing’s heart operation, she too will become a statistic.

The authenticity of the article can be verified by contacting:
· The paper which first ran the story,

The Herald
Herald House,
George Silundika Ave/Second Street
PO Box 395,
Harare,
Zimbabwe

Tel. No. 00 263 4 795771

· Your country’s embassy or high commission might also be able to visit the family and verify the facts if you ask them to. For example,

British Embassy
Corner House (7th Floor)
Samora Machel Avenue/
Leopold Takawira Street
PO Box 4490
Harare

Tel. No. 00 263 4 772990

· The following children’s charities also have a presence in Zimbabwe and might be able to verify the facts if asked to do so.

Save the Children UK - Zimbabwe
(SC(UK))
10 Natal Road
Belgravia
Harare
Zimbabwe

Tel. No. 00 263 4 793198

World Vision International (Zimbabwe)
59 Joseph Road - Off Nursery Road,
Mt Pleasant,
Harare,
Zimbabwe
P.O. Box 2420,
Harare,
Zimbabwe

Tel. No. +263-(0)4-301715, 301709, 369027/8, 301178, 301192, 301180, 301187

Fax No. +263-(0)4-301330

Zimbabwe Red Cross Society
10 St Annes Road,
Avondale
Harare
Zimbabwe

P.O. Box 1406
Harare
Zimbabwe

Tel. No. +263-(0)4-332638, 332197
Fax. No. +263-(0)4-335490