Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
THEY say health is wealth, but one can only understand its true value the moment it begins to slip away.
The old adage has been true for 54‑year‑old father of four – Mr Funny Kupenya – of Gwiriri in Honde Valley, whose face is slowly fading away as he fights a rare form of facial cancer.
To him, that loss has not been gradual. It has been visible, painful and persistent, slowly eating away, not only at his face, but at his ability to provide, socialise, and live with dignity.
Mr Kupenya was first diagnosed with cancer in 2022, but his journey began with what seemed like an ordinary illness.
In an emotional interview on Tuesday, Mr Kupenya said it all started with flu‑like symptoms, prompting his family to suspect that he had contracted a new Covid‑19 variant.
“I started by having flu‑like symptoms, and we suspected that maybe I had contracted Covid‑19. Later we discovered it was not flu because I had developed a deep wound on the upper part of my mouth,” he recalled, adding that what began as discomfort soon turned into something far more serious.
Tests confirmed he had cancer.
However, he said little was explained to him about the type or stage of the disease.
“They ran some tests and said I had cancer, but they did not disclose its type or stage. If they did, I clearly did not catch the name. I was referred to a doctor in Harare, who wanted US$50 for consultation and US$700 for treatment, which I failed to raise, and nothing more was said about my condition,” he said.
Without the required consultation and treatment fees, the door to further diagnosis and structured treatment closed before it could fully open. Since then, the disease has progressed aggressively.
He has lost a nose, upper part of his mouth and part of the cheek.
His face is slowly fading away.
“It is now approaching my cheek further. I have severe back aches and I generally feel weak,” he said.
The physical transformation has been devastating. His once ordinary face now bears the marks of a disease that has steadily consumed parts of it. Eating has become a struggle. Breathing is difficult. Speaking is laboured.
“It has affected me to a greater extent. My mouth is almost destroyed. My nose is left with one hole, so it is really difficult to eat and breathe. I can only eat porridge, okra and milk,” he said.
Meals that once brought comfort to him are now limited to soft liquids and semi‑solids.
Nutrition is compromised, and so is his strength.
He said he has not received any treatment beyond pain management.
“I have not received meaningful treatment for the cause, except some pain relievers prescribed by the doctor at Karanda. Sometimes I go for days without them due to financial challenges,” he said, adding that the hardest part for him is not the physical suffering, but loss of independence.
“The most difficult part is that now I cannot do anything on my own. I need help from someone, and I cannot work for myself and my family,” he said.
Before illness struck, Mr Kupenya was the breadwinner. He worked to support his wife and four daughters. Today, he depends on the very people who once depended on him.
“My condition eats them up morally. The welfare of my family has been affected greatly since I was the breadwinner,” he said.
His wife, Mrs Rutendo Mhembere, has stepped into the gap, selling fruits along the highway to try and sustain the household. But even that has become inconsistent.
“She is the one supporting me through selling fruits at the highway, but now she cannot go daily since I now need constant care,” he said.
The emotional toll of the disease has been just as severe. His appearance has changed drastically, and with it, his confidence.
“It has affected my social life greatly because of the odour that comes out of the wound. I cannot chat with friends and relatives or attend social gatherings, I now live a solitary life,” he said.
Once an active member of his community, he now spends most of his days indoors, separated from the world by pain, embarrassment and physical limitation. Yet in the midst of his suffering, remains a quiet boldness.
“I trust God and believe that one day I will be healed. God gives me hope. I believe everything that is happening, God allowed it and He has a reason for it. I believe one day He will stretch His mighty hand to deliver me,” he said as he dropped a tear.
Mr Kupenya said medical professionals have indicated that his condition now requires specialist attention for reconstructive and advanced cancer surgeries that are more accessible.
“It is the only hope that I have so far since my condition now needs a specialist,” he said.
However, the cost of even beginning that journey remains a barrier. The family must first raise the US$750 doctor’s fees so that further tests can be conducted and formal quotation for surgery and related expenses provided.
“When we find the consultation fee that is when we can be given the bill. For now, we do not have the exact amount,” he explained.
The uncertainty of not knowing how much is required makes the mountain appear even steeper.
But for Mr Kupenya, the outcome of successful surgery is clear.
“It will be a dream come true and hope restored. I will be happy and thankful to God for giving me another chance,” he said.
His greatest fear is not death, but leaving his family vulnerable.
“I fear for my family, especially my children. If I remain in this state, I cannot do anything to help myself and my family,” he said.
In Honde Valley, neighbours have rallied around him as best they can. Community members visit, offer moral and spiritual support, and sometimes bring food from their gardens and farms.
“They have been of great help. They support me morally, socially and spiritually,” he acknowledged.
But goodwill alone cannot fund the overseas surgery.
His cousin, Mr Cleopas Munokowenyi said the family has done everything within its limited means.
“As a family, we have been supporting him and his family with moral support, foodstuffs and some cash to visit Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital and Karanda Hospital. His condition is fast deteriorating, and we are asking God for a miraculous hand before it is too late,” he said, adding that the required funds are beyond their reach.
“The condition now needs huge funds, and it is beyond our reach. That is why we are appealing to the generality of Zimbabwe, companies, civic organisations and anyone who wishes to help to come forth and be there for us. If only we could get that US$750 and have him undergo the further tests in Harare.
“This is not just an appeal for medical funding. It is a plea for a father to have another chance to watch his daughters grow. It is a cry from a wife who now balances caregiving with survival. It is a call to a nation known for its spirit of chivanhu (ubuntu) to stand with one of its own in his darkest hour,” he said.
Mr Kupenya himself spoke softly but directly to fellow Zimbabweans.
“I am pleading with the people of Zimbabwe to help me. I really need this medical help so that I can look after myself and my family again,” he said.
For those willing to assist, the family can be contacted through Mr Cleopas Munokowenyi on 0778180008, Mr Funny Kupenya on 0774708848, or Ms Rutendo Mhembere on 0779889328.
