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The Herald, 23 May 1993
FOUR brothers aged between six and 17 and living in the Bushu area of Honde Valley have found a new home in a small pole hut after spending the last 10 months in a cave where their father had dumped them.
The four boys — Justin (17), Garikai (15), Nyasha (10) and Simba (6) Saungweme — were dumped in the cave in the middle of the forest after their father’s third wife had refused to look after them.
The four were left to fend for themselves with only one blanket, scanty kitchen utensils and a few grocery items.
The cave, close to the Pungwe riverbed, is also home at night to wild animals.
Often, the boys shared the cave with animals such as pigs and hyenas.
The acting headman at Kashiri, Cde Richard Kashiri came to the rescue of the boys when he heard of their plight.
Relating their ordeal, the eldest, Justin, said after their mother was divorced, their father married a second wife who later drowned in the Odzi River when it was flooded in 1991.
“We stayed with our stepmother for a few days, but life was unbearable as she would not give us food and we had to do our own cooking,” recalls Justin.
When the new wife told her husband that she could not care for the boys, the father took them to the cave.
Justin said they lived in fear of attacks from wild animals. His father visited them once a week.
Asked why the matter had not been reported to the police, Cde Kashiri said people knew about the children, but were simply afraid to report the matter to the authorities.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
Children are a heritage or legacy. They should be well taken care of, and not abused. Divorce and re-marriage should not be used as excuses to ill-treat one’s own children.
Despite advances in modern culture, the great African adage, “it takes a village to raise a child” will forever remain a truism.
Childhelp.org defines child abuse as “when a parent or caregiver, whether through action or failing to act, causes injury, death, emotional harm or risk of serious harm to a child.” Childhelp adds that, “there are many forms of child maltreatment, including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation and emotional abuse.”
Abuse has long-term effects on individuals, the family unit and society, and in some cases results in tragic consequences like rape, murder, substance abuse, theft — all of which can lead to long-term imprisonment. Love between couples and their children is the only answer.
A mother’s love is “extremely important for the healthy emotional outcome of the children”, says therapist Ridgefield.
Abuse can also lead to post-traumatic disorders, a condition that has long-term negative effects.
Despite the many civil society organisations whose central role is to ensure that children’s rights are respected, it is critical that these organisations sensitise and advocate for the respect of children’s rights, and where these rights are not respected, corrective measures are taken, through the legal route.
Legal and policy frameworks are in place to protect children’s rights in Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter