Stand up and be counted

go fishing bass with you”).
I replied: “Tamara, as much as I want to go fishing with you, the terrain at most dams is not user friendly. It would be difficult for you to navigate these rough terrains in a wheelchair. If I had a boat probably I would have assisted.’’

She laughed and said: “The fact that you have mentioned that the terrain is rough and tough, the more I am prepared to take the challenge. You know Bhudhi I love challenges. I want to accompany you on your next hunting expedition. Be a good brother and say yes.”
Unfortunately, it was not to be, as Zimbabwe lost one of its gallant daughters on January 11, 2013.But who is Benhilda Marume?

Benhilda Marume was born on February 7, 1982 in Masvingo province. She was involved in a horrific traffic accident when she was doing her O-Levels on March 31, 1999.
She sustained serious spinal cord injuries. Her serious injuries were classified as quadriplegia or tetraplegia T6-T7.As a result of the accident she was left with a “small thread” which connected the brain and cortex.

Her survival was in fact a miracle. The only proper functional parts of her body were from the head to the sternum part of her body. Below the sternum to the foot she was paralysed to the extent that she could not feel any sensation on it.
She relieved herself through manual evacuation. She also had a bladder diversion, which helped her to bypass the normal urine channel.

After rehabilitation at Ruwa Rehabilitation Centre she had tendon transfers that enabled her to eat on her own, or move uplifts to release pressure on herself.
She could not write but could use knuckles on her computer and phone.From the time she was injured to the time she passed on she had 24 major operations excluding minor operations on her body.

Under normal circumstances, people living with disabilities of this magnitude are supposed to sit back and wait to be spoonfed.Despite these seemingly insurmountable huddles she arranged with Zimsec to sit for her O-Level exams and passed six subjects while still nursing her injuries at Ruwa Rehabilitation Centre.

This was facilitated by a nurse and a person whom she dictated what to write on the answer sheet.She also obtained a Certificate in Marketing at Management Training Bureau.

At the time of her death, she was a second year social work student at Women’s University in Africa.She was inducted into the Hall of Zimbabwean celebrities when she starred in the popular soap Studio 263 as Tamara.

Though she was not part of the plot of the soap,she fought and negotiated her way into the soap despite her physical challenges. After being given the chance, she did not disappoint. She lived up to the billing and even exceeded the expectations of the producers.

In 2003, we launched Disabled Women Support Organisation together with the late Ms Gladys Charowa. Benhilda was the founding chairlady and programme officer. The pay-off line of the organisation was, “Despite disability we can fly”.
The main objective of organisation was to empower girls and women living with disability with life challenging skills.

She travelled all over the world lobbying for the rights of women and girl child particularly those who have spinal cord injuries. Locally, she was lobbying for the inclusion of disabled women in mainstream Government organs.
In addition, she was running capacity building programmes in Mberengwa, Gwanda, Chegutu, Mutare and many other areas.

Last year she was nominated to as a board member for Nango representing the northern region and advisory board for the National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board representing people living with disabilities.
Benhilda is a personification of people who lived their life to the full based on the “I can do” attitude.
Some people waste precious time reinforcing inability and disability.

Most people are able to do many things but they tend to manufacture reasons not to capacitate themselves.
Reasons for incapacitation range from problems such headaches, minor injuries, high blood pressure, weight, height, beauty, etc.
Some people have so little but they use the little that they have to the maximum.

In 2005, Benhilda was hospitalised in Romania and South Africa while she was delivering papers on improving the livelihoods of disabled women and girl child.

After these two events, one would have thought Benhilda would slow down on her work and concentrate on preserving her health. On the contrary, she actually increased her work rate. She had so much to do with so little time.
Benhilda passed on while she was busy running capacity building programmes in Mberengwa.
Though she was due for yet another major operation, her passion for building better people for Zimbabwe always got first preference in her life.

Thus she responded to the call of duty hoping to come back to Harare in time for the operation.
We all think we have problems, but the majority of them are self-inflicted problems which we continually reinforce and consequently disable ourselves.
There is no doubt about that Benhilda managed to fly despite living with disability.
She was indeed a source of inspiration to me. I sincerely hope her life will inspire you as well. Rest in peace my sister, Tamara.

The writer is a Managing Consultant at CLC Training International. E-mail [email protected].