adminFreedom Mutanda
February 5, 2015 will remain etched in the collective memories of the Chigugudhlo family and its extended relatives scattered all over the world.
On that day, James Chigugudhlo, aged 49, father, deputy head and husband bade farewell to his wife, Otilia (44) and children on his way to Chipinge for a routine duty call at the district education offices. He walked the five hundred metres to the ever-busy Kondo bus terminus where he intended to board one of the many commuter omnibuses that ply the Checheche-Chipinge route.
True to form, the touts haggled over him; after all, he was a popular passenger.
“Mudhara, come and enjoy the comfort of this kombi!’’ One of the touts masquerading as a conductor, called him as he went towards one omnibus.
Off, he went to the commuter omnibus that appeared to be on the verge of leaving. The driver was a familiar face and very jovial as usual. Ensconced in one of the seats, he heaved a sigh of relief and smiled at how these youngsters made life hell for commuters.
Everyone knows where she/he is going. Why must anyone literally drag someone to a vehicle as if one does not have the ability to choose on one’s own? He settled comfortably on the seat and arranged the sheaf of papers he had.
Soon, the commuter omnibus was off with a flourish. It appeared as if the drivers were motorsport drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, who are eternal rivals on the circuit. This competition for customers is silly, James Chigugudhlo, reflected.
The bus sped towards Chipinge.
As fate would have it, hardly five kilometres later, an explosion disturbed the morning peace. James does not remember what happened next.
The driver lost control of the vehicle as it careened off the road and rolled before landing on its roof. Several passengers including the driver died on the spot.
James survived but he was badly injured.
“We heard that there had been a bad accident and my husband was in the kombi. We rushed to the accident scene. Bodies were still strewn around and the police officers there directed traffic. In the mean-time, people said James had survived. I couldn’t believe them. I approached Daimani, a police officer from Chipangayi Police Station, and asked him if he had seen my husband. He told me that James had been ferried to Kondo Clinic,’’ Otilia Chigugudhlo said. Her eyes cloud as she remembers the scene.
“His legs were in a bad state and he was unconscious. He was rushed to hospital but still there were no machines to make the feet shy away from infection. He was immediately sent to Mutare Provincial Hospital but by that time, I had lost hope he would make it. One could say James was in his dying stages as he breathed heavily. God works in mysterious and miraculous ways. Our uncle, Dr Panganayi Dhliwayo, sent an aeroplane to ferry him to West End Clinic; the 45 minute journey made me to remain on tenterhooks as I silently prayed for my husband to remain alive,’’ Otilia continued her narration.
There were groups of doctors who looked after him in the 25 days he remained in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The legs had to be amputated since they had been exposed for a long time and they had an infection. The infection had affected the bones.
Otilia Chigugudhlo had to endure nearly a month of torture as her husband’s life hung by a thread. On 3 March 2015, James opened his eyes; one could see him following an action through his eyes. For the first time, Otilia had hope.
“I saw him open his eyes and I couldn’t believe it. Here was a man who had a broken chest, one of his lungs pierced by a rib. He had serious head injuries and I thought he would never be normal again. The thought that he could end up a vegetable didn’t trouble me because I love him. Doctors asked me if he was talking any sense and I told them he was all right,’’ The wife looked at her husband and the eyes said it all.
On 6 March 2015, James Chigugudhlo was released from hospital having gone to the high dependency unit and then finally to the ordinary ward. He had gone from hell to paradise. The excruciating pain had been anaesthetised. It had been a journey in a desert when one is blindfolded.
The Manica Post had an article about James Chigugudhlo’s predicament. At the time, his medical aid had said it had exhausted his yearly portion as it were. Therefore, the appeal was carried out through-out the length and breadth of this land. Zimbabweans responded well.
In the bible, Jesus healed ten lepers and only one came back to appreciate what the son of man had done to him. There could be others who got help courtesy of appeals in the media but never thought of using the public platform to thank the people who made it happen.
The Chigugudhlos are eternally grateful to the public that came through for them.
“We are grateful to The Manica Post for the article that galvanised many people to do something about our plight. When the accident happened, the family was traumatized and our first born was getting prepared to go to Solusi University. The fees that we had set aside for her were used up. After the article, many people used the number to give assistance in form of cash and she was able to go to school. We are members of the SDA movement and fellow church mates got to hear about our plight in the press and they did their utmost to keep us comfortable,’’ she said.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education immediately went into action. The heads – NASH and NAPH quickly mobilised resources to ensure that his medication won’t be stopped for lack of funds. To that end, a fixed amount had to be given to the district office by each school in the district.
James Chigugudhlo spent some time using crutches before he used artificial legs; all that required a lot of money. It is the team at West End Clinic that worked hard to make him be what he is today.
“I am grateful to Dr Israel Dube, the surgeon, Dr Govha who specializes in bones and Dr Bgoya, the anaesthetist. Of course, my uncle, Dr Panganayi Dhliwayo was a God-sent. The head of Save Valley Research Station, elder Temba Busangavanye and his wife never stopped praying for us and all the people that I may not be able to mention by name made me survive the ordeal. As I speak, World Vision, a development partner of government, helped in building a toilet that is user-friendly for me at Mwacheta Primary School,’’ James said.
Finally, James received his artificial legs. He walks with difficulty. He drives from Kondo School where Otilia teaches to Mwacheta every morning and returns at 4pm. For a month, 5 February to 3 March, a dark cloud hung over the Chigugudhlo and Chanakira families. Otilia’s maiden name is Chanakira.
The pain and anguish during that time was unbearable.
There is a common Shona proverb, makudondimamwe, musiwenjodzianorwirana. Baboons may fight over food but they always come good for each other when danger strikes.
The extended family offered emotional and financial support to the Chigugudhlos. Many people who are not remotely related to them were on hand to give the support needed.
“Special mention must be made about John Chitekuteku, an uncle, who provided accommodation, food and transport to my wife as she visited me at the clinic. I thank God for sustaining my life when all hope seemed lost. He is a living God. It was a miracle that I survived the accident and for that I thank him,’’ James said.
There comes a time in a man’s life that he feels every hope is lost. James may have thought he would breathe his last in his unconscious condition but he did not. He does not remember what happened but as William Shakespeare said, ’’all is well that ends well.’’
He is an example of a person who survived when everyone thought he would not make it.
He did.
Online Reporter