When baby boys are a family curse

Normally when baby boys are born, people celebrate their arrival.

African tradition is of the belief that sons strengthen and eventually take over the family’s legacy.

However, for Ambuya Petronella Mutasa’s daughters, baby boys are a curse within the family.

Ambuya Mutasa gave birth to six daughters and two sons, all able-bodied.

Her daughters, however, seem to be living with a curse, all their sons are disabled while their two daughters are able-bodied.

The perceived family curse has forced the boys and the youngest of the six daughters, Margret, to avoid marriage and having babies. The chain of disabled sons being born by Ambuya Mutasa’s daughters have brought tribulation, complications and fears as every baby boy comes out with a different disability.

“My daughters who have children gave birth to seven disabled boys and only two girls without any deformities,” said 49-year-old Ambuya Mutasa, with a sad face.

Ambuya Mutasa stays in the Magada area of Epworth with two of her daughters and seven disabled grandchildren. The family stays in a one room.

“It pains me so much that I actually have grandchildren but I can’t task them to do anything for me. I am always helping their mothers to look after them,” she narrated as she wipes off some saliva dripping from her 11-year-old grandson, Munyaradzi Mutasa’s mouth, with a wet towel.

Munyaradzi was so jovial to see visitors coming at their homestead but could not express it vocally.

The 11-year-old boy cannot talk or walk and his hands cannot give a handshake or hold anything.

Sadly, as old as he is, he still crawls and wears napkins as well.

“Munyaradzi is my first daughter’s son. He shares the same mother with Tafadzwa Mutasa (4). However, their fathers are different,” continued Ambuya Mutasa

The four-year-old Tafadzwa is much reserved and less active. His left leg is visibly larger that the right one, while his left hand is so deformed that he cannot stretch out. He also crawls and wears napkins because he can’t use the toilet on his own. Their mother is 32-year-old Christina Mutasa.

Ambuya Mutasa’s second born daughter, Mordesta Mutasa (30) has four children – two daughters and two sons. She is the only one who has given birth to baby girls. The 30-year-old mother’s first born is a girl, Peacemaker Machaka (12) followed by Leeroy Machaka (8) who is disabled. Leeroy cannot crawl like others because his waist and legs are dysfunctional but he also wears napkins.

After giving birth to Leeroy, Mordesta gave birth to another girl, Isabell Machaka (4) who is able-bodied and was followed by 16-month-old baby boy Saymore Machaka. Saymore is still being breast-fed but he cannot crawl or make any sound other than crying.

“My third daughter Tsitsi Mutasa (27) has two sons,” Ambuya Mutasa went on.

Tsitsi was not at home on the day we visited the family as she had gone to Murehwa to seek help for the curse that has torn apart her family.

“She had three sons but recently lost her last born who was born with an abnormally big head and small face. Her baby had white hair yet he had a normal skin complexion similar to others. He, however, died when he had just turned three months.”

She said Tsitsi’s sons are Stallion Mafaire (11) and Bernard Maguranyanga (7).

Although Stallion is 11 years old, he has the body of a six-year-old. He cannot walk and so he uses his hands to drag his body.

Ambuya Mutasa explained: “Bernard’s condition is the worst of them all, his entire body cannot do much. The only thing he can do is move his head, blink and cry.

“When he was here last week, he spent most of his time sleeping,” she narrated pouting, with watery eyes. She could no longer hold back her tears which were already running over her pale old cheeks.

Wiping her tears with the corner of her jersey, Ambuya Mutasa added, “Words cannot describe how I am feeling right now. I have tried everything, moved from popular n’angas to different churches but all my efforts have been in vain. Nothing has changed.”

She said she has never received any lobola for all her daughters.

Her first daughter Christina interjected, “It is so painful, the reason why I have two children with different fathers is that most men cannot stay with me together with my disabled children.

“My young sister Abigail (25) who is in Murehwa, has an eight-month-old son who is also disabled. His name is Blessed Chaitezvi. He has deformed feet and he cannot crawl,” said Christina.

“Three years ago Abigail lost a son, Bothwell Chigama, who died when he was only four years old. Bothwell was also disabled.”

She said she has never enjoyed her life ever since she gave birth to her two sons and shares the same plight with her sisters.

Christina always moves around with her four-year-son tied on her back in order to accommodate Munyaradzi.

“My mother, Mordesta and I are currently looking after the five disabled children here. The other two are coming back next week,” Christina said.

“We are always keeping a close eye on them. When they are hungry, feeling sick or in pain, their call is the crying. They cannot go to school like other children of their ages. It hurts so bad to watch them every day in their condition.

She said her youngest sister Margret Mutasa (23) is not yet married and has never stayed with a man as she is afraid of the curse.

She said besides their internal grief, the community is always saying bad things about the family. Some people say the family was bewitched while others say the family carries a dark spell.

Spiritual leaders suggest that the scenario is a generational curse.On the other hand, the family said traditional healers have told them that they were cursed in exchange for riches (kuromba).