The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa has stressed that both male and female children are special gifts from God, adding that they deserve equal treatment.
This comes after a thirty-year-old Bezel Bridge woman was forced to flee her matrimonial home in South Africa after refusing to sell one of her newly-born triplets as demanded by her husband.
Ms Olinda Maphosa of Marange shed tears of joy when she and her triplets Rukudzo, Runako and Rujeko finally found respite as Sen Mutsvangwa pledged to provide all groceries and sundries needed for the upkeep of the three minor girls.
Moved by the plight of the eight months old triplets, one of the country’s leading seed manufacturers, Agriseeds yesterday (Thursday) handed over maize meal, maize and sorghum seeds to their mother.
Ms Maphosa recollected the ordeal she went through at the hands of her estranged partner.
In an interview with The Manica Post, Ms Maphosa said after giving birth to the triplets, her husband Obey Mucheke asked her to sell one of the girls indicating that he would have wanted one of the children to be male.
At the time the couple was staying in Thembisa, South Africa.
When Ms Maphosa refused to sell the child, her husband threatened her with death, and she decided to flee South Africa.
“My husband demanded that we sell one of the triplets arguing that we could not have girls only in our home. I refused to sell any of them. I found his demand strange. I just could not sell any of my daughters.
“I do not know where exactly he wanted to sell the child, but he said he could find buyers there in South Africa. When I refused to sell any of the children, he openly me that he would not contribute anything towards their upkeep. He said I should shoulder that burden on my own.
“Since I was not working and had just delivered, I sought for assistance at a Roman Catholic Church institution. I was assisted by the officials there,” she said.
However, Ms Maphosa started receiving death threats from her husband.
“When he discovered that I was getting enough to feed myself and the triplets from the institution, he started threatening me and my children.
“He told me that either I would die in the next five days or one of my children would die. I did not take his warning lightly and decided to leave South Africa and come back home,” she said.
When Sen Mutsvangwa heard of Ms Maphosa’s plight during a Zanu PF’s Women’s League pre-exhibition briefing, she did not think twice and instantly pledged to provide for the triplets.
“It is disgusting to hear that we still have men who think that a girl child is not as special as a boy child, worse still when one harbours thoughts of selling an innocent soul.
“I am happy you (Ms Maphosa) resisted this man’s evil intentions. I will provide everything needed by these children, from porridge, nappies, milk, everything. I will do that every month and will also look at how to assist them get decent education as they grow up,” said an emotional Minister Mutsvangwa.
As Agriseeds handed over some goods to the triplets’ mother yesterday, Minister Mutsvangwa also handed over some money to Ms Maphosa.
Agriseeds director (sales and marketing), Mr Ivan Craig said: “We were equally touched by the plight of the triplets. We instantly decided to help them through these donations to facilitate sustainable farming activities for the family.”
Mr Craig accompanied the triplets to their Marange homestead soon after yesterday’s handover function to get a first hand appreciation of their needs.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement – through the Agritex officer in Odzi – will facilitate sound agricultural activities at their homestead.
Minister Mutsvangwa said she is engaging another partner for the provision of a borehole for the family.
“While we appreciate the need to fill the tummy today, we are also mindful of a sustainable future for these three wonderful products of creation. This is the reason we have different people coming in with what they can give to ensure this family becomes self sufficient.
“As we move with them, we want to give them a rod, not the fish,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
