11-yr-old bedsider’s dad dies

JUSTINAH MUKUKA
Lusaka
THE father of the 11-year-old boy who was the sole bedsider at the University Teaching Hospitals (UTH), where he was admitted after being transferred from Mbala for specialist treatment, has died.UTH acting public relations officer Brilliant Mukuma said Reuben Musukuma, 49, died in the early hours of Monday.
The story of Mr Musukuma, who had been diagnosed with tuberculosis relapse and suspected lung cancer, and his 11-year-old son Tembele, was revealed by the Daily Mail early this month.
Tembele revealed how he had been taking care of his sick father for six months with relatives refusing to have anything to do with them.
However, after publication of the story, some relatives showed up at UTH offering to take care of Tembele, who lost his mother when he was a toddler.
“Some relatives, among them Mr Musukuma’s elder brother, resurfaced last week and the deceased was able to identify them,” Mr Mukuma said.
“He was furious with them but they sought forgiveness.
Some of these relatives came from Mbala while others are Lusaka-based.
“When he died, relatives got the boy and the funeral is in Lusaka. They came with him today (yesterday) to get money to help in the burial.”