Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
WHEN I met him again this month, I almost walked past him.
Standing tall and proud at Chikanga Secondary School, where he had escorted one of his learners to an event, he had a familiar warmth and smile plastered across his face.
He looked every inch the vibrant teacher he once was, and he noticed me first.
“Do you still remember me, my daughter?” he asked, his voice steady and full of gratitude.
It took me a moment to recognise the man before me.
Walking unaided and full of life, was the same Mr Givas Karume, the once-bedridden languages teacher from Makoni, whose desperate plea for surgery was reported by The Manica Post exactly two years ago.
Back then, his story touched thousands across Manicaland and beyond – a respected teacher crippled by a thoracic spine condition, bedridden and running out of time.
His wife, Mrs Lizzy Karume, had a broken leg and could barely move.
The family’s plea for help was one of the most heart-wrenching stories I had ever written.
Seeing him now, strong and upright, felt like witnessing a miracle unfold.
He still remembers every detail of the journey that changed his life.
“After my story went viral on social media and appeared in The Manica Post, people I had never met started reaching out to help. On November 17, 2023, I was admitted to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare. Ten days later, on the 27th, the doctors performed the surgery that gave me my life back,” he said with a bold smile.
He paused for a moment, his eyes glistening.
“I was discharged on December 2, 2023, and transferred to Ruwa Rehabilitation Centre for physiotherapy. I stayed there for four months, and financial donations for my stay kept coming in because you guys wrote another article. The therapy was painful and exhausting, but I was determined to walk again,” he said with a beaming smile, recalling a particularly poignant moment.
“On April 12, 2024, one of my former learners drove me back home to Mutare. That was one of the happiest days of my life,” he said.
At home, he continued with check-ups at St Joseph’s Mission Hospital while regaining strength.
However, what stands out most in his story is his resolve to return to the classroom.
“On July 1, 2024, I returned to work at Dope High School. By then, I was still using crutches. There was a time I thought I would retire early because I could not even stand. But the doctors, physiotherapists, and the Good Lord had other plans for me. My colleagues and learners welcomed me like a hero returning from war. That day, I felt alive again,” he said, his voice trembling with gratitude as we spoke.
“I want to thank the physiotherapists at Ruwa Rehabilitation Centre, the doctors at Parirenyatwa, and the people who never gave up on me. But above all, I thank The Manica Post for publishing that article, because it gave me a second chance. That article opened doors I never imagined. It brought together people, former learners, colleagues, and total strangers who united to save my life,” he said.
He also spoke fondly of his son, Tinashe, who became his caregiver during his darkest days.
“My son sacrificed everything for me. He was by my side every day, bathing me, cooking, and helping me move. May the Lord bless him. My wife and children also spent their 2023 Christmas and 2024 New Year with me at the rehabilitation centre. That love kept me going,” he said.
By the first term of 2025, Mr Karume had abandoned crutches and begun walking on his own.
Soon, he was back on the sports field, coaching athletics again.
“I never thought I would coach again, but by God’s grace, I am back training athletes. We did fairly well, and I also joined the Makoni District athletics coaching team that prepared athletes for the provincial competitions at Hillcrest College. Being part of the team is a blessing,” he said.
By the second term, he was also leading Dope High School Under-20 boys soccer team and assisting the Under-15 girls team.
“The boys were knocked out early, but the girls surprised us all. They won at zonal level, advanced to the district stage, and reached the provincial finals. Even though they eventually lost, that journey was a victory,” he chuckled.
Each step and achievement, reminds him how far he has come.
Today, he walks without support, teaches daily, and inspires his colleagues and learners with his story of perseverance.
He remains deeply thankful to friends, family, and well-wishers who made his recovery possible.
“I will forever be grateful to my former learners who ensured that I never missed a dose of medication. To my workmates, who helped me even with laundry when I returned to work, may God bless you. And to the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, who directed me to The Manica Post, thank you for facilitating the media coverage that reached the nation,” he said.
But his most emotional words were for The Manica Post readers who responded to his appeal.
“I want to thank the people of Manicaland who opened their hearts to help me when I was at my lowest,” he said, looking skyward.
“Your kindness saved my life. I am walking, teaching, coaching, and living again because of your generosity. You made me believe in miracles. You might not have known it then, but your story changed everything.”
As we concluded, he stood up slowly and walked across the classroom without a limp.
“I was once bedridden, helpless, and ready to give up. But look at me now. The Lord is good. No situation is too hopeless when people come together in love and faith,” he said proudly.
His wife, Mrs Karume, has since recovered from her leg injury as well.
“My leg has completely healed, but I would like to thank you for the articles that ended up in donations, which enabled my husband’s healing, restoration, and transformation of our lives,” she said.
As he disappeared into a classroom full of eager learners, laughter echoing behind him, I could not help, but smile.
Two years ago, The Manica Post published the story of a man who could not stand, who wept during the interview and asked for help.
Today, he stands tall, not just as a teacher, but as a living testimony of hope, faith, and the power of community.
