Online Reporter
Theseus Shambare
Features Writer
WHEN 32-year-old Dephinate Chitsaka of Glen View walked into Sally Mugabe Central Hospital early this month, she did not expect her family to grow from three to six children at once.
She describes the birth of her triplets as both a miracle and an emotional earthquake she is still processing.
While she celebrates the blessing, she admits the financial and physical demands ahead feel overwhelming.
She now faces the daunting reality of providing more food, more clothing, more diapers and more medical visits than she ever expected.
“This was my fourth pregnancy, and I never thought I would give birth to triplets,” she said.
Dephinate said even producing enough breast milk for three newborns has become a daily worry.
Her story mirrors that of many Zimbabwean mothers who navigate the added responsibilities of raising multiple kids with strength, creativity and a determination to secure a better future for them.
Multiple births occur in about 3 percent of deliveries globally, but Sub-Saharan Africa has some of the highest twinning rates in the world.
In Africa, especially in West and Central regions, twinning rates can rise as high as 25 to 45 births per 1 000 deliveries, largely due to genetics, maternal age and increasing access to fertility treatments.
While multiple births bring joy to families and communities, they also come with significantly higher risks and responsibilities.
Research, including clinical findings from Mpilo Central Hospital, shows that babies from multiple pregnancies face higher risks of low birth weight, complications at delivery and greater vulnerability in the first months of life.
These medical challenges often intersect with economic pressures that make it harder for mothers to cope.
In Epworth’s Domboramwari suburb, Tendai Magava has lived through these hardships for more than a decade.
Her triplets — Collins, Courtney and Confidence — were born in 2014.
They are now preparing to start Grade Six in 2026. She remembers the early months as a period of joy that were, however, quickly shadowed by sudden hardship.
Her husband, Nathan, lost his job soon after the triplets arrived, leaving the family with no stable income.
She began vending around Epworth to keep food on the table, while Nathan repaired bicycles in the community to supplement the family’s meagre income.
Confidence — one of the triplets — developed a recurring ailment that kept him in and out of hospital for years.
Tendai recalls carrying one baby on her back, another on her chest and the third in her arms as they walked to the clinic.
She said many people admired her strength, but very few understood the tears she shed in private.
“People would look at me carrying three babies and think I was managing just fine,” she said.
“They did not see the nights I cried alone or the days I worried about where the next meal would come from.”
Her turning point came when the World Food Programme (WFP), in partnership with the Government, introduced the Urban Cash Assistance Programme in Epworth.
“The support came just when we were losing hope,” Tendai said.
“I could finally buy mealie meal, vegetables and even cover transport to school or the clinic. It has made a huge difference.”
The programme, running from August to December this year, supports more than 8 400 vulnerable individuals across Wards 3, 6 and 7, providing cash through digital services such as Mukuru and EcoCash.
“It is a lifeline,” said Tendai.
“It has restored dignity to our household and given us the stability we had never felt before.”
WFP head of Harare field office Ms Bianca Dzwairo said cash assistance empowers families by allowing them to prioritise their needs.
“Cash gives families choice. They can decide whether to buy food, pay rent, purchase medicine or cover school fees. It restores dignity and builds resilience,” Ms Dzwairo said.
The cash-based transfers, she said, also stimulate local economies.
“When beneficiaries spend in local markets, they support small businesses, which strengthens the community economy. The digital system makes the process transparent, accountable and secure.”
Ms Dzwairo described the Epworth pilot programme as a milestone in Zimbabwe’s social protection efforts.
“This is the first time WFP and the Government of Zimbabwe have jointly implemented a cash-based programme of this scale in an urban area. It demonstrates a commitment to modern, people-centred humanitarian support,” she said.
For Tendai, the programme has not only improved the household economy but also eased her emotional burden.
“Now I can plan better, make decisions calmly and focus on my children’s growth,” she said.
Across Zimbabwe, mothers of multiples face similar challenges.
“They eat more, visit clinics more often and require more care than a single child,” Tendai explained from her experience.
“The pressure to produce enough breast milk and manage daily needs is intense.”
Health workers note that mothers of twins and triplets often struggle with fatigue and stress.
“Many of them rarely get time to rest,” said a nurse at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital.
“Without support, the continuous cycle of feeding, carrying and comforting several infants can become overwhelming.”
These challenges highlight the importance of strengthening maternal health systems to ensure better care for high-risk pregnancies.
Zimbabwe’s hospitals and clinics continue working to expand access to antenatal services, improve delivery outcomes and support mothers who require specialised care.
The introduction of urban cash assistance adds another layer of resilience by addressing the economic pressures that directly affect child wellbeing.
Back in Glen View, Dephinate remains hopeful as she looks at her three newborns sleeping peacefully.
She said although the future feels uncertain, she believes mothers who came before her show that it is possible to raise triplets successfully.
She hopes that support programmes like those in Epworth will one day reach her community as well.
In Epworth, Tendai said watching her boys prepare for Grade Six is a reminder that her struggle has not been in vain.
She acknowledges that feeding and educating three boys in the same grade remains a challenge.
Tendai, however, said she is grateful that despite the difficulties, her children are growing healthy and are full of life.
“Confidence (one of the triplets) still needs assistance, but I thank God they are all alive,” she said.
Her journey, like many others across the country, reflects the resilience and determination of Zimbabwean families raising multiple children under demanding conditions.
Tendai said she did not choose to have triplets, but she chose to fight for them.
She believes that with a little help and continued hard work, she can keep pushing forward.
