Masiziba sits in her room with her life savings of Zimbabwean dollars that are now worthless, at Melford Farm, an older persons' residence supported by HelpAge International, in Harare.
Older people in Zimbabwe have lost their life savings after the country's new Unity Government suspended use of the Zimbabwean dollar for a year in April 2009.
The dollar had become a symbol of President Robert Mugabe's teetering rule: an ailing economy, high unemployment, collapsed infrastructure and social services.
More than half the 12 million population are reliant on emergency food aid.
The only currencies now in use are the South African rand, Botswanan pula and US dollar. For thousands of older people it means their savings are worthless and they cannot buy food and other essentials.
Kate Holt visited older people living in care homes across Zimbabwe to hear how the economic collapse has affected them.
“We used to live in a proper Africa”
Masuria Saiba lives in Melford Farm case home in Harare. Her husband and all her eight children are dead. She told Kate Holt her story:
"We used to have cattle, but I sold them to relatives after my children died. I planned to use the money to look after myself because I knew that I would have no other source of income. Now it is worthless - nothing but a bag full of paper.
"When I had my family we had money to spend on essential items like sugar and soap and the occasional treat.
"Now I have nothing - no money, no land, no family, no animals. We used to live in a proper Africa. Our life now is nothing."
With no family and no resources, Masuria had to move into Melford Farm. She says: "Since I came here I started to feel much better. I am happy. I have food, a roof over my head and new friends."
"I can still work as an older person"
Emmanuel feeds a pig that he helps to look after in the piggery.
The piggery is one of the income generation activities run at an older people's home supported by HelpAge International in Masowe, Zimbabwe.
Emmanuel Zinhare lives in Mazowe care home in Zimbabwe. He says: “I am the foreman for the farm and am responsible for managing the fields.
"We grow maize, sorghum and some other cereals depending on the weather.
“I also look after the piggery. This is very important because it provides us with meat to eat and we can sell a pig if the farm needs extra money.
“People think that as older people we just want to sit around and be looked after, but I like working. I like being here in Mazowe because I can still work as an older person.”
The homes are supported by HelpAge Zimbabwe and HelpAge International, with funding raised through Help the Aged's Sponsor a Grandparent programme.
They are helping older people get back on their feet and earn an income by running piggery and other farming projects........
Masiziba sits in her room with her life savings of Zimbabwean dollars that are now worthless, at Melford Farm, an older persons' residence supported by HelpAge International, in Harare.
Maniko, a resident of an older people's home that is supported by HelpAge International, is photographed in Masowe, Zimbabwe.
Hester, who makes a living for her and her dependent children and grandchildren from sewing.
Jesca, who has lost seven of her eight children due to AIDS.
Anna sits outside her room at Melford Farm
Smao, a resident of Melford Farm
Residents lay out maize to dry after harvesting it on their community run farm, at Melford
Smao, a resident of Melford Farm, an older people's home
Matthew, who is orginally from Mozambique but came to Zimbabwe in search of work, sits outside his home in an older people's home
A resident fetches a melon from the garden at an older people's home
Matthew talks to Lorriane, from HelpAge Zimbabwe at an older people's home supported by HelpAge International, in Masowe, Zimbabwe.
Astimega and her grandson sit outside their house at an older people's home
Emmanuel poses for a portrait in his home at an older people's home
Emmanuel collects maize from the farm, that is part of income generation activities at an older people's home, that is supported by HelpAge in Masowe, Zimbabwe.
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