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By Elvis Dumba
Zvimba – Maria Madheu of Noro Village in Zvimba has shown that disability is not inability as she has been farming her thriving maize and groundnuts fields near Mutorashanga.
Madheu, who crawls to her fields, had her two legs amputated due to diabetes nine years ago.
Madheu’s exploits caught the attention of Zvimba North Constituency Member of the House of Assembly, Marian Chombo, who donated a wheelchair to help her with mobility.
Madheu who is already selling green mealies from her field said she wants other people with disabilities to empower themselves through hard work and learning critical skills for survival.
“I realized after I got amputated that a life of begging will not take anyone anywhere. I have to find ways to put food on the table. The amputation did not take away my humanity. Since I still have hands, I have to use them. Armed with my hoe, I have been able to work on my field and put food on the table,” she said.
Madheu said although she has been able to work on her fields, she longed to visit her friends and other places since she can not crawl for long distances due to the bad terrain. At times, she has to nurse blisters on her knees.
“I’m so grateful for the wheelchair donated by Honourable Chomboas this will help me in marketing my produce and visiting my friends as well as attend various empowerment training programs in my community that I have been failing to attend,” she told this publication.
Chombo, who has been empowering people with disabilities in Zvimba North Constituency where she is a Member of Parliament, has urged other people with disabilities to get life skills that help them to be active in economical activities.
“As the government of President Emerson Mnangagwa, we need to see empowered communities and people with disabilities should also take active roles in economical activities for self-empowerment and national development. This woman has demonstrated that it can be done and that having a disability is not a limiting factor to one’s dream and aspirations,” she said