malvernmugadzikwa
Theseus Shambare
High in the rugged mountains of Mutasa, within the remote village of Mutamangira, resides an extraordinary advocate for children, 49-year-old Mr Blessing Mandigo.
Breaking societal norms, Mr Mandigo has devoted the past 12 years to serving as a Community Child Care Worker (CCW), a role traditionally associated with women.
His unwavering commitment to safeguarding children’s rights has made him a respected and admired figure in his community.
Trained in child protection by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare in partnership with UNICEF and the Swedish government, Mr Mandigo has emerged as a leader and a vigilant guardian in his community.
Out of the 20 men who got training from his village, he is the only one still serving.
His approach is proactive.
He identifies and intervenes in potential abuse cases and conducts awareness campaigns to educate the community about child abuse.
Mr Mandingo also collaborates with local leaders—village heads, traditional leaders, and religious figures—to ensure children’s rights are prioritised.
In 2024, Mr Mandigo organised over 15 workshops with community and religious leaders, training them to champion child protection.
“His ability to connect with people and make them understand the importance of child protection is remarkable,” said Ms Susan Sirewu of Mukanda Village.
“He has inspired others to follow in his footsteps, proving that anyone, regardless of gender, can be a champion for child protection.”
One of Mr Mandigo’s most notable success stories involves a young girl who suffered severe abuse from her stepmother, including being denied access to education.
Touched by her situation, Mr Mandigo sourced funding for the girl to finish primary level.
“She has now started secondary school, and I connected her with donors who are covering her education costs,” he said.
However, Mr Mandigo also faces challenges in his mission.
The unforgiving terrain of Mutamangira often renders his Government-issued bicycle impractical, thereby forcing him to traverse long distances on foot, sometimes up to 20 kilometres.
This delay can be critical in urgent cases, such as responding to sexual abuse, where timely medical intervention is vital.
“Reaching a child in need can take hours,” said Mr Mandigo.
“Every minute counts, especially in cases of sexual abuse where prompt action can prevent HIV infection.”
The lack of reliable mobile phone networks in the area further complicates his work.
Communicating with the Child Protection Committee, reporting cases, or seeking urgent support becomes nearly impossible when signal outages occur.
“Getting a call about a child who has been raped, knowing I need to act quickly, only to find myself without a signal, is agonising,” he said.
“I recall a particularly poignant case involving a 12-year-old girl who was at risk of HIV infection,” he shared.
“I received a distressing call informing me that she had been raped by her stepfather, who was known to be living with HIV. The situation demanded immediate action,” he explained.
“The girl lived in Nyakurimwa Village, over 20 kilometres from Hauna Growth Point. Despite the distance, I felt compelled to reach her within 72 hours so that post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) could be effective.
“Fortunately she got PEP on time and is virus-free. The girl was sent to hospital where she was timeously attended to,” he said.
Online Reporter