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Roselyne Sachiti
Features, Health and
Society Editor
Seven- year- old twins — Tapiwanashe and Kupakwashe Chitiyo — play in their parents rented two-roomed house in Harare’s Highfield high density suburb.
The day is Thursday February 11, and the two sit on the floor in the little room they use as a kitchen, lounge, and their bedroom. They talk and chat as their father, who is a professional chef helps their heavily pregnant mother prepare dinner.
The twins are anxious to welcome their little brother or sister, the fifth child in their family anytime. Born on April 22, 2014 conjoined from the lower chest to the upper abdomen and sharing a liver, Kupakwashe and Tapiwanashe now in Grade Two at Kudzanai Government Primary School are truly enjoying the joy that comes with their bodies being independent from each other.
Yet, at the same time, they remain inseparable and do everything together. On July 29, 2014, a team of about 50 local health workers successfully separated the pair at Harare Central Hospital, now Sally Mugabe Central Hospital.
“At first after the surgery, they used to fall ill at once and we had to get double prescriptions all the time, but that is all over now,” the twin’s father Moses Chitiyo told The Herald on Thursday night.
At seven, Tapiwanashe and Kupakwashe’s wit and skill has left their parents and community speechless. The boys have been growing well with Kupakwashe healing completely in 2017. However, Tapiwanashe’s journey to full recovery continues.
“When they were operated on, there was a mesh inserted to hold the intestines in place as well as cover the wound. Now as healing occurs, the mesh is automatically pushed out, equivalent to the part healed. With Tapiwa, that process is still underway,” revealed Mr Chitiyo.
He explained that in December last year, Tapiwanashe was booked in hospital for what was supposed to be the last and most critical procedure to healing.
“After two weeks of staying at the children’s hospital, he was discharged without treatment, but with bills for us to pay. The mesh has since outlived its purpose and could be preventing the wound from healing,” added Mr Chitiyo.
He said Tapiwanashe is due for another check this month, but with the Covid-19 virus still wreaking havoc, they will wait a little longer.
“We are expected to foot the bill for this procedure this time, including any tests to be carried out, prior. We will only get to know of the cost after the process is complete,” he pointed out.
It has been an interesting seven-year journey.
For the first couple of years following the surgery, they visited Sally Mugabe Central Hospital fortnightly for dressings and reviews. The visits then became monthly. “Of special note is that any slight illness they had to receive prompt treatment. And after discharge all prescriptions were on us. Currently we use between US$15-20 for Tapiwa’s dressings alone,” he added.
Currently employed by the University of Zimbabwe as a chef, Mr Chitiyo said keeping up with medical bills is not easy, sometimes they compromise on other essentials just to make sure the scar doesn’t go septic.
“It’s hard, especially if you think we have been doing this for the past seven years,” he said. The twins are also very sensitive to cold or moist conditions with Tapiwanashe coming down with a fever if he gets too cold. The twins are aware of their medical history and according to Mr Chitiyo, they somehow feel they are sort of special. Kupakwashe is the most vocal, but Tapiwanashe plays the cool guy, yet they are both little rascals. Sometimes, he said, the pair can be very stubborn and difficult to deal with.
“But most of the time they are very humble and obedient. I believe the community doesn’t help matters by hero worshipping them. It kind of gets to their heads. They are fun loving with lots of wit and humour.”
Being little heroes in their community, almost all kids want to play with them.
“They are intelligent, always cheerful, loving and kind to each other as well as all the kids of the neighbourhood. In fact, our home is the playground for all the kids in our street,” he said.
With Covid-19, the couple is worried by the number of children that come to their house, but said living in high density areas, it is difficult to keep kids in doors for long. While playing, Tapiwanashe sometimes gets disturbed on his wound by bullies and curious kids who want to inspect him, but nothing serious to worry about. The couple’s greatest desire is to see all their children grow into well-educated and empowered individuals.
“Our greatest prayer is to be able to build a home for our special twins and their siblings. A mammoth task considering I only have 15 years before retirement,” he noted.
“We would welcome anyone who can assist us join a housing scheme which is willing to take us on board. We also wish our legislators come up with legislation that caters for the welfare of children like ours, for they are the nation’s priceless success story and a joy to be celebrated and preserved.”
According to Mr Chitiyo, the twins have huge appetites for good food, their favourite being French fries and chicken, pizza, and burgers. However, their love for food does not reflect in their physical appearance. This makes him and Agnes uncomfortable as both are quite heavily built.
“Perhaps because we can’t afford the food they like, we also try to keep them from fast foods. The twins do not have any special diet, but any nutritious food is good for them.
“I guess being a chef pays off for me on this one. They also love confectionery,” he revealed.
Huge fans of Zimdancehall music the pair knows lyrics of most songs their parents can hardly decipher. They also love watching television, mostly Indian soaps, documentaries and cartoons. “Their favourite artists include Killer T, Winky D, Jah Master and Enzo Ishall. I believe the artistic use of poetry of these guys fascinates them.”
They are also young creatives and like to make toys with waste material. They also enjoy their school work. “Most interesting, they have a love for medicine, and understand their history pretty well. Besides literature, photographs and various supporting materials, we always tell them about it,” explained Mr Chitiyo.
When the twins were conceived, Mr Chitiyo was unemployed and eked a living through selling fruits and vegetables.
“I am a Chef by profession and was fed up of working for several months without a salary for a couple of companies in Harare. My wife had to go for scans several times before giving birth but none of the scans revealed what lay in store for us and the doctors,” he reminisced.
When she was due to give birth, Agnes was admitted at Murewa District Hospital and a couple of days later gave birth to the twins by cesarian section at the hands of Dr Fechete.
The twins were immediately transferred to Sally Mugabe hospital till the surgery three months later.
“These were trying times for the family. I had to travel to Harare and back to Murewa daily, provide all necessities for those in Hospital as well as those at home. We have two other girls Runako now (11) and Ropafadzo (8) older than the twins by four and two years. I had to do this from my vending business,” he said. While the government assisted with the major operation itself, he had to foot other bills.
“We were challenged spiritually, emotionally and financially. We overcame all obstacles through prayer as a couple. “We were stigmatised by friends, neighbours as well as some family members,” he further explained.
Housed in the intensive care unit, Agnes spent three months in hospital without stepping out even for a single day. Mr Chitiyo said hospital staff from Murehwa and Sally Mugabe Hospital staff were professional.
“Zimbabwe’s local medical professionals are highly trained and capable of undertaking any procedure necessary to save a life and ensure its most decent and prolonged existence. Our twins bear testimony to our faith and words of love and trust towards all medical professionals,” he added. “These guys (medical team) are amazing, real geniuses of the highest order. Imagine that with limited resources, they managed to perform wonders. Their dedication to duty and commitment is highly commendable.”
He added: “I pray that the Ministry of Health and Child Care gets bigger allocations in future budgets. More private corporates can join those already making a contribution to improve the health sector.”
With another couple due to have their Siamese twins operated on at Sally Mugabe Hospital, Mr Chitiyo said there is nothing to worry about as they were in capable hands.
“Please have faith in the Almighty God, and the medical team. Pray as a couple, don’t wait for any pastor, prophet or any other form of anointing. The anointing is already in you and those precious twins. Love them with your all your hearts and never use them as vessels for begging or getting those unfulfilled desires by donors,” he said.
He said Agnes has met with the couple and the Siamese twins. He thanked everyone who assisted them when their twins were operated on adding the person who deserves all the love, thanks and praises is his wife Agnes.
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