The Sunday Mail
Mrs Alice Magumisi-Mutasa, the Mbare woman who gave birth to quadruplets three months ago, is still to be discharged and seems to have made Harare Hospital her home away from home.
The reason behind her prolonged stay at the hospital is that she cannot afford to leave the institution.
Her fairytale delivery of four baby girls (only one in every 729 000 live quad births do not end in infant death) has quickly turned into a nightmare, as the reality of caring for the children sinks in.
She already had a son, and suddenly has five children.
“I stay in one room in Mbare and it’s not conducive for my little babies because there will be seven of us now crammed in one room. And because I haven’t found anything else as yet, I’m still staying here at the hospital,” explained Mrs Magumisi-Mutasa.
“My husband and I were already in dire strains and found it difficult to take care of our first born Takudzwa but now we have four more babies to look after.”
The Sunday Mail Extra paid the mother of five a visit during which she narrated her predicament.
Some nine months ago, the Mutasas went for a routine scan to find out the sex and health status of their six-month pregnancy. It was then that they were informed that they were expecting not one, not two, not three but four baby girls. Three months later, the couple held Charlene, Charnel, Charntel and Charmaine in their arms.
“When the nurses told me that I had delivered quadruplets, the first question I asked myself was how on Earth am I going to feed or dress these babies? My husband and I were already finding it difficult to take care of our first born, Takudzwa, and now we had four more babies to look after.”
But Zimbabweans responded with the warmth they are known for. Clothing and food among other items flowed in as a public appeal was made for assistance.
Over the past three months, the flow became a trickle — and then dried up. The Mutasas need new lodgings and income to care for their babies.
Young Takudzwa, unlike his peers, is not yet in nursery school and spends the day at home because there is no money for his fees.
So where is the father?
Mr Misheck Mutasa was born in a family of several children from a polygamist father who had five wives.
He was schooled only up to Grade Seven (there was no money for him to continue with his education) and he drifted into the informal sector, taking up any job he could find in addition to vending anything he could get his hands on.
He now largely sells vegetables.
Mrs Mutasa, on her part, dropped out of Chapanduka Secondary School in Buhera in Form One after her mother fell ill.
She took responsibility of her two siblings and to survive she also took whatever job came her way.
Harare Central Hospital acting chief executive officer Mr Alfred Mukosi said they had an obligation to look after the less fortunate.
“It’s unfortunate that our quadruplets have no home to return to, and so the hospital has cheerfully accommodated and provided for them albeit temporarily,” he said. “When any children are in such dire straits that it becomes apparent that they have no home, the hospital has a duty to look after them.”
Mr Mukosi said they would keep Mrs Mutasa and her quadruplets for as long as there was need.
Local Government has offered them a residential stand in Dzivaresekwa Extension. But they cannot make the down payment to move in.
“The residential stand we got in Dzivaresekwa Extension was a good gesture and we truly appreciate, but the problem is we are supposed to pay up US$2 000 for us to acquire it and due to our financial dire straits it’s beyond our reach,” said Mr Mutasa.
“So far we have managed to pay US$192 after a donation from a well-wisher… I will do anything in my power to build — even a make-shift structure — and stay there for the sake of being united with my family.”
