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Catherine Murombedzi H I V Column
CHISANGA Chiti would like to be a professional dancer. She is 19 and defying odds as she is able to wiggle her waist with ease and dance with a sequence of movements to any music or even when there is no music playing. She is a born natural dancer. One would mistake that she has gone through choreography classes, but no, she is a self-taught dancer. Her moves are theatrical and mesmerising to say the least.
I had the chance to see Chisanga do what she enjoys best in Lusaka, Zambia in December last year.
Given a chance Chisanga may turn out and become a professional and competitive dancer.
Chisanga was born with cerebral palsy and was orphaned as a baby, but thanks to her maternal aunt, Ms Clementine Mumba, she is able to attend special school and live in a family environment.
Chisanga is able to do laundry and clean the house. She can do most house chores except cooking because as a precaution she has to avoid fire.
Ms Mumba has had to put her life on hold as she has to take care of Chisanga and Paula Phiri who is also under her care.
“My daughter is a grown up, is employed and has moved out. I live with my two nieces who are children to my late step-sisters. I am their mom and they depend on me for their livelihood. Chisanga is 19 and was born with cerebral palsy. Paula is now in Grade 12 and is 20. They both attend boarding schools and come home during vacation,” said Ms Mumba.
“Chisanga has impaired hearing and needs aids. She also is impaired on the right side making movement a bit difficult, but she walks unaided. My kids are both on anti-retroviral therapy and are doing well,” said Ms Mumba.
“Paula is in need of urgent eye operation as she has lost sight in her left eye. Paula’s left eye has to be taken out. It got infected when she was a baby and we were advised that it has to be taken out because she has lost sight completely in that eye.
“I was also told that it has to be done early as it may spread to the other eye. I am therefore appealing to well-wishers that she under goes the procedure before it is too late,” said Ms Mumba from her rented premises in Chelston, Lusaka.
Ms Mumba can be contacted at [email protected]
Ms Mumba is giving the girls the best in education that she affords and considered boarding schools for children with special needs so that they grow up integrated and able to help themselves.
“Yes, my girls can be what other girls can be given a good and sound education. This is the best I can do,” said Ms Mumba.
Ms Mumba has had to halt construction work at her stand in Avondale, Lusaka, Zambia as she channels the little she gets to the girls education.
“I stopped construction work at my stand four years ago. The structure was at window-level and I could not afford both school fees for my girls and building. One had to stop and it was the construction. Soon my girls will be grown-ups and I will commence the house construction, God willing,” said Ms Mumba.
Ms Mumba does voluntary work for Community of Zambian Women living with HIV and Aids COZWHA and is a member of ICW.
“I am committed to making a change in my community. No new HIV infections must be recorded in this age. I talk to youths, the old and everyone as concerning HIV and I also distribute free condoms as a way to combat new infections.
“I do not just dish out condoms without giving enough understanding, I also talk of being faithful, abstinence and condom use to those of age,” said Ms Mumba.
Ms Mumba speaks to positive living and urges adherence to what was prescribed by the health personnel.
Ms Mumba could be seen hunching a huge plastic bag of condoms during the SRHR symposium that was held at Mulungushi Conference Centre in December last year. And indeed she plays her part as she distributes condoms in Lusaka, urges adherence to medication and by living openly with HIV herself has been a pillar of support for many people. For Ms Mumba its the satisfaction she gets from the voluntary work she takes in between her buying and selling venture.
With such commitment, new HIV infections will be marginal if not a thing of the past.
Online Reporter