The Sunday Mail
Tariro Charandura
MIKE TYSON turned to fighting after getting tired of being the victim of bullying in Brownsville, Brooklyn, a United States neighbourhood that is notorious for its crime.
The bullies pounced on Tyson because he was “small and shy”. And they unleashed the self-proclaimed baddest man on the planet.
In Zimbabwe, Mbare could be what Brooklyn is to the US – a high paced suburb with an astonishing crime rate.
In Mbare life can be hell for any boy, let alone a one-handed chap who is just nine-years-old.
Samuel Mlambo, whose left hand was amputated after a rehydration procedure went horribly wrong at Harare Central Hospital in 2009, turned to boxing to defend himself.
Reports are that after completing the hydration procedure, medical staff left a tourniquet strapped to his arm for three days. The arm developed an infection and doctors decided to amputate little Sam.
Samuel (identified as Sam Makate in initial reports of the medical boob) is now training under legendary former Commonwealth champion Arifonso “Mosquito” Zvenyika.
“Because I only have one hand to use the other boys used to bully me a lot so I decided to take up boxing just for self defence,” said the bubbly Grade 2 pupil.
“Slowly the bullying is stopping because these days I fight back and my punch is powerful. Mosquito has taught me how to throw a good one.”
But a journey which started in search of self-defence may turn out to be an absorbing tale of a one-handed boxer. Mlambo, an orphan who lives under the care of his grandmother, has fallen in love with the sport.
“Initially all I wanted to do was to learn how to defend myself and then stop coming for training,” he said. “However, now I am serious about boxing and wish to feature at a tournament alongside Charles Manyuchi since I’ve been training to fight like him.
“Although I love boxing my dream is to become a soldier just like my late father. I know they do a lot of sports in the army so I am sure they will allow me to continue as a boxer while working for them.”
Zvenyika said Mlambo eschewed want special treatment during training.
“I train a lot of young kids but Samuel is the most passionate. He doesn’t mind his disability and trains like all the other kids, same concepts and same routines. He might be one-handed by the boy has amazing hand speed,” said Zvenyika.
While Samuel has accepted the hand of fate and is trying his best to get on with life, Gogo Mlambo is bitter.
“Imagine, now my grandson has to use one hand and his leg when underlining at school … it pains me, it’s not fair.
We are poor and cannot sue the hospital and its doctors for negligence but I believe my grandson is owed some form of compensation.
He wasn’t born like this, the doctors caused this,” she said, close to tears.
