The ManicaPost
Catherine Murombedzi
“TODAY June 23, 2017 marks 17 years after Mathias Muza passed on. It was really a sad moment to watch a beloved one wasting away and failing to give any medical help. Only the heart knows what I wished for. My heart bled that if only I could help, but that was next to nothing except a dream.”
Today with anti-retroviral medication the story is different.
Touching and moving, that is what Angy Chiwetani who is a widow to Muza went through. She was commemorating the death of her husband on June 23 which is a global day set aside for widows.
Chiwetani said it was no coincidence that June 23 is now observed as International Widows Day, it is by grace.
Chiwetani had to raise up minors single-handedly. She was young and unemployed too.
“It was a blow to my beloved kids who have now grown up to be adults, yet didn’t have much time with their dad to give them love. For those few years and days that he lived he did all he could especially to his children, Simba and Keith. He stretched his generosity to the extended family. Some felt it, but obviously some didn’t. Such is life,” added Chiwetani.
“On June 23 after the death of my husband, real life situations came my way and all the good times experienced were next to a dream,” said Chiwetani.
Chiwetani and kids faced stigma and discrimination.
“It was hard, we faced stigma and discrimination along the way. It was time to count real friends and relatives,” she added.
She at times had to call her children indoors when they faced discrimination.
“At times I called my children in doors when play time turned hostile,” she said.
Her parents remained her pillars of support.
“I am grateful my parents stood by me through tough times,” she said.
“God provided us courage to stand and face reality. It was a time for sure that we knew who was who and what they are meant to be in our life. True and genuine people were revealed so were their true colours,” said Chiwetani.
“Above all, God’s love kept prevailing and took us a long way. Here we are today.
‘‘The United Nations made a special announcement in 2013 that June 23 is now commemorated as International Widows Day,” she added.
Chiwetani went on to launch a widows’ organisation.
“I founded Widows Fountain of Life (WFoL) and we join the rest of the world to commemorate International Widows Day as we celebrate the lives of all widows globally. We salute them, taking into account all what they did and went through all because of their children and themselves. All this was to maintain the dignity of the poor widows who faced lots of hardships due to poverty, gender based violence, stigma, labelling, limited access to information and little or non-exposure and empowerment. It hasn’t been any easy road,” she lamented.
Some widows had properties taken away by greedy relatives.
“We lost properties to greedy relatives and communities. We faced challenges due to disempowerment due to health status and being a surviving parent. We were treated as second class citizens,” she poured out.
Speaking on the Meaningful Involvement of People Living HIV forum to observe the day, Shingirayi Matogo another charismatic widow weighed in saying Chiwetani spoke on behalf of most widows.
“I am sorry about your loss. You articulated very well real situations we all faced and are still encountering as widows. I salute you for perseverance,” said Matogo.
Martha Tholanah an activist par excellence saluted Chiwetani too.
“Thank you for sharing such a profound story. You have been strong in the face of devastating circumstances, however, you didn’t cower into a shell. You have continued to strengthen, comfort, encourage and inspire many in Zimbabwe and beyond. I want to salute you as one of the greatest Zimbabwean heroines of our time. May God continue to guide and give you strength,” said Tholanah.
Chiwetani still works hard in her community in Chitungwiza, Harare.
“Above all, we still contribute positively to the communities, national issues, regions and globally. Let us respect and treat each other with dignity. You never know it could be you being a widow and feel my shoes tomorrow, how would you want to be treated,” asked Chiwetani.
“Stretch a hand to help where need arises,” said the smiling Chiwetani.
Chiwetani is found at #Widows Fountain of Life on Facebook.
“If you can’t feed a hundred then feed one,” she added quoting Mother Theresa.
Is it too much to ask that you feed one needy mouth?
Food for thought.
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