adminConrad Mupesa Mashonaland West Bureau
While many rejoice at giving birth to children, for Everisto and Rosewiter Maravire from CheuchiVillage in Mhangura, the recent birth of their triplets came as more of a curse than a blessing.
For eight months, the Maravire family has endured the pain of taking care of the triplets from a shoestring budget, which was also meant for the upkeep of their other three minor children aged 11, seven and four.
Everisto (47) whose curse does not only end with his three little bundles of joy but the shame and pain of staying at his in-laws place, recently pleaded with the community for assistance in taking care of the children.
Clothing for the triplets — Anotida, Anenyasha, both girls, and Anesu a boy was only but the least of the couple’s challenges as his wife had complications previously that made it difficult for her to breastfeed.
One of her breasts developed a morbid swelling in 2010 and this has made it impossible to produce milk while the remaining fails to satisfy the children.
“The birth of the triplets came as a curse than a blessing as I was failing to make ends meet for the three children that my wife and I already had. I’m currently being accommodated at my in-laws’ homestead as I don’t have a place of my own.
“The community had thus, taken it upon itself to laugh at me and, the coming in of the triplets also gave the villagers reason to denigrate me further,” he said.
While he sometimes questions God, why he chose to make him a laughing stock, Everisto vowed to provide for the children.
His wife, Rosewinter (37) said while the couple had prepared for a single child; she learnt her greatest shock three weeks before delivering that she was carrying triplets.
She said life also changed for the worst when she gave birth to the triplets prematurely on December, 22 at Nyamugomba Clinic in Mhangura constituency’s Ward 6 before she was transferred to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital where she stayed with the children for at least one month.
“At the hospital, my 72-year-old mother helped me to take care of the children while my husband supplemented agricultural activities with gold panning to sustain us though it was not enough,” she said.
She also said due to her condition, the triplets started receiving porridge and (Maheu) way back before the recommended age of six months as the couple failed to purchase supplement milk formulas.
After hearing the couple’s plea, Mrs Mitchele Rusero Chimombe of the Mike Chimombe Foundation Trust chipped in to assist the family.
“As MCFT, we saw it fit to assist with all the basic needs that the children might need including food and clothing,” she said.
The foundation has also opened a life cover policy with ZB Bank for the children’s full schooling needs until tertiary.
Online Reporter