How Fredrick Mafira turned his son’s limb loss into a noble vision

Leonard Ncube
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FREDRICK Mafira is a man with a big heart and a noble vision. He is the founder and director of Our Pride-Amputee Helping Amputees Zimbabwe, a community-based organisation that provides support and resources to people with disabilities, especially those with limb loss, in Victoria Falls and beyond.
Mafira, 47, was inspired by his son, Pride Tadiwanyasha, who was born with Fibula Hemimilia, a condition that affected his right leg and led to its amputation below the knee. Instead of giving up, Pride has become Zimbabwe’s own blade runner, competing in various international events and winning medals. He is, however, less recognised at home as he remains unclassified.
Mafira said he started his philanthropic work at a young age, driven by a passion for helping those in need and giving back to the community. His son’s disability became the driving force behind his work, as he wanted to give him and others like him hope and opportunities.
“I started philanthropic work at a young age driven by a passion for helping those in need and giving back to the community. Now the driving force behind all this is my son Pride, a Right Leg Below Knee Amputee (RLBKA),” said Mafira.
Mafira, who is also his son’s personal trainer and mentor, has helped him achieve remarkable feats in athletics. Pride, who wrote his Ordinary Level examinations last year and is waiting for results, has competed in several competitions in South Africa, where he is classified as a T64 runner. He has also represented Zimbabwe in Uganda and Dubai and participated in virtual 5km marathons during the Covid-19 period.
Mafira said he suspended his son’s sporting activities for a year to allow him to focus on his studies. He said he is planning to establish an amputee football team in Victoria Falls, where his son will join.
Mafira, who does charity work with his wife Faustinah and two daughters Praise and Princess, has also reached out to many other individuals and families in need, providing them with essential resources such as crutches, wheelchairs, shoes, and prosthetic hands and legs. He also helps mobilise foodstuffs, clothing, and educational support for vulnerable society members each time there is need.
Mafira has been involved in various community development projects and was instrumental in building a school office at Jabulani School with the help of Lions Club International and a library in rural Binga. His work has made him a renowned philanthropist and community leader known for his dedication to helping others and making a positive impact in his community.
Mafira mobilises resources through various means, including fundraising events, crowd funding of WhatsApp groups that he creates for specific incidents and invites the community to help, partnering with local businesses, organisations and individuals who share the passion for helping others.
“I network with different doctors and I am proud to have done five successful fundraising projects to help amputees buy their prosthetic leg. I have done two successful fundraising programmes for kids with hydrocephalus to travel to Karanda Mission Hospital for operations.
“As Pride’s coach, I have dedicated myself to mentoring and guiding him towards success. Pride has gone on to achieve great things including becoming a successful athlete and philanthropist himself, continuing the cycle of giving back to the community,” said Mafira.
In Bulawayo, Mafira is helping amputees to start a football league and already there are two teams that have started playing games.
As a father of three, Mafira says he and his family are stronger together because of team work. He said all the philanthropic work has not directly benefited his family financially as they are driven by the need to give back to the community which stood by his son after he was born with a physical condition.