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ONE day, Beauty Magwidi (49), got the shock of her life when her niece left her daughter Charity Gapare (8) at her house in Chivi district, Masvingo.
Magwidi got home and found Charity unattended and her mother nowhere to be found.
Charity was born with a physical impairment that affects her speech and mobility.
When she was only eight months old, her mother abandoned Charity at her aunt’s home with the hope of salvaging her marriage.
Her father struggled to come to terms with her disability, believing Charity’s condition was a ‘curse’.
“I’m convinced that she did this to save her marriage but she still gave birth to another child, with a physical impairment,” said Magwidi.
For eight years now, Magwidi has been taking care of the child as her own.
She spoke to H-Metro during a media tour organised by the Government, in conjunction with UNICEF, and revealed that she took Charity to a rehabilitation centre for disabled children at Chivi growth point.
Magwidi said with love, support and the right opportunities, people with disabilities can achieve incredible things and live full and meaningful lives.
“She has found a new family and a new sense of purpose,” she said.
“With this stimulation centre, I don’t even wish the mother was here. We have learnt a lot from this centre.
“I have learnt a lot about how to cope and manage the situation.
“I am happy that she has learnt new things, she can now crawl and communicate, which is a milestone compared to the old days.
Director of Zimbabwe Parents of Children Handicapped Association Ronald Mazangu said the organisation was established in 1987 for parents with handicapped children to share experiences and motivation.
ZPHCA supports 321 children from five districts in Chivi.
The organisation now has nine provincial chapters.
“We discovered when we were moving around that these children were being abused,” he said.
“Some parents locked their children indoors and did not allow them to travel or interact with the society and were just too shy to identify themselves as parents of children with disabilities.
“But, here, we encourage them to interact so that they perform just like the other children and this has changed a lot of things in a positive way.”
The Chengaose Stimulation centre is supported by the Ministry of Public Service and Social Welfare, UNICEF, with funding from Sweden, Norway (NORAD) and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation working with implementing partner, Zimbabwe Parents of Handicapped Children Association (ZPHCA).
The centre is a safe environment where Charity receives the medical care and support she needs.
She participates in physical and occupational therapy, learning new skills and building her strength.
Charity also received speech therapy, which helps her communicate more effectively.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter