Written by Linda Schultz; Zimbabwe Pensioner Support
It has been almost 25 years since Hannes Botha received that first appeal for assistance from an elderly relative in his hometown of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The pensioner was in dire financial straits, leaving her unable to afford even the most basic necessities, including food. That simple appeal became the beginning of what is today the Zimbabwe Pensioner Support Fund (ZPSF), reaching elderly men and women across the country with practical help, encouragement, and the assurance that they have not been forgotten.
From humble beginnings
From its humble beginnings, the Zimbabwe Pensioner Support Fund has grown to support just over 1050 pensioners with an apple box filled with non-perishable food. Today, we distribute these boxes through 24 old age homes and organisations throughout Zimbabwe.
Thousands of kilometres of care
Every eight weeks, we move around 15 tonnes of non-perishable food, together with medical aids such as wheelchairs, crutches, walking aids, and non-scheduled medicines, to our Golden Oldies using a Nissan Croner 16-tonne truck and a bakkie.
Each trip lasts between eight and ten days, with the two vehicles covering more than 6000 km and using over 1200 litres of fuel. The value of the food, together with the cost of delivering it to pensioners in Zimbabwe, exceeds R700 000 per trip.
We make six trips each year, culminating in our special Christmas trip, when every pensioner receives an additional festive parcel. We also provide parcels for the dedicated staff members who care for residents in the various homes.
A family legacy
Since its inception, ZPSF has relied entirely on donations to carry out its mission. With the help of a network of volunteers in Zimbabwe and generous fuel donors, we have been able to minimise our operational overheads.
ZPSF has always been a family-run charity, and after the passing of our founder, Hannes Botha, in 2022, operations continued uninterrupted under the leadership of Hannes’ daughter, Linda Schultz.
More than a box of food
The food hampers provide much-needed sustenance, but the regular arrival of our teams from South Africa, supported by local volunteers, means so much more to our elderly pensioners. These visits offer encouragement, companionship, pastoral care, and the assurance that they have not been forgotten. Over the past year, donations have declined, and we are struggling to maintain the level of support our pensioners need. But this is not simply a job to us. It is a passion.
How donations reach pensioners
Donations to the Zimbabwe Pensioner Support Fund reach recipients through an established logistics and distribution network.
Food and other supplies are collected from individuals, organisations, and businesses before being prepared for distribution. The goods are sorted and packed under the supervision of ZPSF team members and distribution teams, supported by local volunteers. The team then travels across Zimbabwe to deliver the boxes.At each destination, local teams help to offload and distribute the supplies to the intended recipients, including residents of old age homes and pensioners in need.
The ZPSF team works tirelessly to make sure that donations reach those who need them most, including people living in remote or difficult-to-reach areas. This involves long road trips, border crossings, and close cooperation with volunteers and organisations on the ground.
Why we do what we do
We are often asked why we keep going despite the challenges. The answer is in the smiles, the tears, and the gratitude. Yes, it is hard. Funding is down, and we are exhausted, but there is no way we will stop. Real people helping real people, with your support. Doing what we say we do.
This article appears in the October 2026 issue of JOY! Magazine. Read the digital version of this magazine here: joygifts.co.za
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Date published: 17/10/2026
Feature image: Provided by Zimbabwe Pensioners Fund; Sourced from original article published in the November 2026 issue of JOY! Magazine
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