A 10-year-old girl living with disability is being left locked up in the house in Chirunga village under chief Negomo.
Donnettela Mushayi Matende is unable to walk and talk but
can crawl from one point to the other and sits well.
Yemurayi Uzande and the 6 year-old girl (partially
obscured)
Her mother Caroline Euphrasiah Mushayi separated with her
father Godfrey Matende over the disability when the latter denied paternity of
the child at the age of 11 months.
Caroline got married to another man following the
separation leaving Donnettela under the care of Caroline’s aunt Yemurayi
Uzande, 45.
Uzande’s ill-treatment of Donnettela is awash on social
media with many suggesting the removal of the minor from her custody.
When H-Metro visited Chirunga village, Donnettela was under
the watchful eye of a 16-year-old girl Millicent Chirunga while Uzande was
attending a village memorial service.
Uzande told H-Metro that living with Donnettela had been a
challenge since she is failing to find a better paying job together with her
husband.
“This girl was born in good health before difficulties in
walking developed at the age of three,” said Uzande.
“Mwana uyu muzukuru mwana wemwana wasisi vangu vakashaika
saka ndini ndiri kumuchengeta.
“Her mother got married to another man after separating
with the father over the disability.
“Her father denied paternity arguing that a disabled child
was not his.
“Ndakabuda ndinomusiya ndakamuvharira mumba pamwe pacho
ndinowana azviitira tsvina saka ndinokumbirawo mapampers.
“The challenge is big considering my husband relies on
brick moulding and earns very little.
“We have been taking her to Howard Mission Hospital for
exercises but financial challenges stopped us,” said Uzande.
Donnettela’s mother Caroline told H-Metro over the phone
that she last saw her daughter two years ago.
“I am in living in Norton after I got married to another
man following my separation with Donnettela’s father,” said Caroline.
“To add salt to the wound I lost my second husband last
year and I’m left with three children.
“I am struggling to make ends meet.
“I last saw Donnettela two years ago and I do not see
myself visiting her anytime soon due to financial problems.
“Her father denied her and I had to acquire a birth
certificate excluding his name.
“He only accepted the first born and this one was rejected
due to her condition,” said Caroline.
Meanwhile, the 16-year-old girl who was looking after
Donnettela when this publication visited the village failed to resume her Form
Two studies at the reopening of schools due to financial challenges.
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