Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
As the world marks Women’s Month, the spotlight often settles on boardrooms, political platforms and entrepreneurial success. Yet far from the public gaze, in modest homes across Zimbabwe, a quieter, more intimate form of heroism unfolds each day, steady, unseen and profoundly moving.
It is the story of mothers raising children with disabilities, women whose lives have been reshaped by circumstance, but defined by endurance, sacrifice and a love that knows no bounds.
In these homes, every day begins with vigilance and ends with exhaustion, yet is sustained by a devotion that does not falter. Simple tasks become delicate rituals; ordinary routines demand extraordinary patience.
“I cannot leave my child alone because she has difficulties feeding and sometimes chokes on her food, so you have to be very careful when feeding her. It is really difficult and requires a lot of patience. I also have to carry my child everywhere I go since she cannot walk,” mother, Mavis Chikuku said.
These are the stories that rarely find their way into headlines, stories of women whose strength is tested not in moments, but in the unrelenting rhythm of daily life.
For them, motherhood stretches far beyond care. It becomes a lifelong pledge to protect, to nurture and to fight for dignity, for opportunity, and for a future that often feels uncertain.
For many, the journey begins not with preparation, but with a diagnosis that quietly alters the course of everything they had imagined.
“My child is now 12 years old. I only found out about her condition when she was five months old. She could not do the things other children her age were doing, so I took her to the hospital, and she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Even now, she cannot do anything on her own. She cannot talk, she cannot eat by herself, she cannot sit, and she cannot walk,” mother, Mavis Chikuku added.
Another mother, Emily Maravanyika, recalls a similar turning point, one marked by both love and uncertainty.
“They are twins and are now eight years old. They were born prematurely, and the doctor told me that one of the twins had a problem and has Down syndrome. From birth, she was always behind in terms of her growth. My biggest challenge with her is that I cannot afford to send her to school, as she requires a special school,” mother, Emily Maravanyika said.
Behind closed doors, these women assume roles far beyond that of a parent. They become nurses, therapists, teachers and providers, adapting, learning and persevering in the absence of adequate support.
Yet even as they carry these immense responsibilities, many do so in isolation. The weight is not only physical and emotional, but often deeply personal, shaped by abandonment and loss.
For some, the diagnosis of a child’s condition has been the breaking point of their relationships, leaving them to navigate the journey alone.
“When the father discovered that Selma had a disability, he ran away and never looked back or helped with anything. Selma needs a special diet, and the doctor said I should get a blender to blend her food. I am not employed and survive on piece jobs. I do all the work, carrying her on my back because she has no wheelchair. She also has to use diapers all the time, but sometimes I do not even have money for them,” Mavis Chikuku narrated.
Emily Maravanyika shares a similar pain:
“When Ano’s father discovered that the child had Down syndrome, he abandoned the children and me and has never contributed anything towards their upkeep,” mother, Emily Maravanyika said.
Their stories are marked by hardship, yet illuminated by resilience, a quiet determination that refuses to yield, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
As Women’s Month celebrations continue, these mothers stand as a powerful reminder that true strength does not always announce itself loudly. Sometimes, it is found in the gentle persistence of care, in sleepless nights, in sacrifices made without recognition and in the unwavering belief that every child, regardless of ability, deserves not only to live, but to thrive.
