The Chigwada family, living in Mukodzongi, Chiweshe, is afflicted by a hereditary physical disability that causes crooked, paralysed, or weak legs, making it difficult for them to walk without shuffling or dragging their feet. This affects everyone in the family, from children to adults.
The family traces the origin of this condition to a past event involving their ancestor, Maringe Chigwada. While working on a white-owned farm (Siamona farm in Bindura), he is said to have stolen a duiker (mhembwe) from a snare set by a Malawian man who was a hunter in the area. When confronted, Maringe Chigwada denied it. The Malawian man then used traditional medicine (mishonga yechivanhu) against them, which the family believes is the cause of the congenital leg disabilities they suffer from today.
Impacts on Daily Life:
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Inability to be Self-Sufficient:Â The disability prevents family members from working to support themselves.
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Difficulty Farming:Â Activities like ploughing and weeding are major challenges.
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Water Access:Â They cannot fetch water from a distant borehole.
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Education:Â Children are unable to attend school or are forced to drop out because they cannot walk the distance.
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Healthcare:Â Accessing hospitals and clinics is a major problem. They mention that doctors from Howard Hospital no longer visit them.
Family’s Requests for Help:
The family, represented by the village head, Mirosi Chigwada (78), makes several appeals for assistance:
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They want the national and traditional leaders to be aware of their plight.
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They need a borehole to be dug closer to their village for accessible water.
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They desperately need a vehicle to transport their children to and from school and for other travel needs.
Notable Observation:
Some relatives who moved away to Mt. Darwin reportedly live there without any leg disabilities, which the family in Chiweshe cites as evidence that their problem is tied to their specific location, likely due to the ancestral curse.
