The Sunday Mail
AS the estimated three billion women around the globe celebrate Mothers’ Day today, Prisca Jiri (14) will painstakingly reflect on the unnerving circumstances that resulted in her being one of Zimbabwe’s youngest mothers.
Just like any child, Prisca dreamt of pursuing her education before moving on to become a nurse.
However, at the age of 13 and in her final primary school year, she was already breastfeeding.
Though disconcerted, she has somehow drawn strength from her five-month-old son who has become a constant reminder of the bliss of motherhood.
“I love my son, no matter how he came into this world. I will take care of him; he is from God and I will never let him know what happened to me,” said the teenager.
Prisca lived with her parents in Murehwa and moved to Nyadire, Mutoko, to complete her primary education while staying at her grandmother’s place.
An aunt and uncle, who did not have any children together after years of marriage, also lived at the same homestead.
Her stay in Mutoko was full of excitement; with the kind of breeze any girl would enjoy out in the country.
Mirth would soon turn into gloom, though.
In April 2014, her uncle, Steve Nyamiko, and aunt Moira summoned her to their bedroom.
She did not suspect any ill-intentions and complied.
After all, these were her close relatives. She was only taken aback and astounded when the couple told her that she was supposed to keep Steve “warm” that night.
It was clear from their facial expressions that this “warmth” referred to intercourse. She tried to escape, but it was too late as the aunt made sure she could not leave.
“My aunt said, ‘Soko (Steve’s totem) vanoda mwana saka hapana kuramba kurara navo kwaungaita. Vose vanambuya vanozviziva (My husband wants a child, so you should not refuse to sleep with him. Even your grandmother knows about this).
“‘Besides, you are still fresh and now ripe for sexual activity. Your breasts are now well-rounded.’ My uncle then took over. He said: ‘Your grandmother and grandfather will be proud of you because you will be the first to give them a grandson. Besides, I always do this with Moira and she never complains.”
Moira blew out the candle and along with it Prisca’s innocence.
Steve abused her throughout the night.
She shed tears profusely, but he would not relent, neither would her aunt have pity.
Her darkest hour had certainly set upon her.
Daybreak came after what seemed like eternity.
Distraught and disoriented, she prepared for school. What had just happened? Was she about to die? Was granny really aware of what had happened? What if she wasn’t aware? Would she not blame her for being naughty?
She made her way to school and resolved not to tell anyone as all these questions flooded her vulnerable mind like a deluge. She was afraid.
But she had not seen the last of Steve — a week later he followed her into the woods when she had been sent on an errand by her aunt.
This time, he told her that he wanted to make the pain in her privates disappear.
He even invited her to his hut on numerous occasions. The abuse continued for four months, until her grandmother noticed physical changes on her. Prisca was pregnant. “My grandmother then threw a tirade, accusing me of sleeping around with boys.”
The 13-year-old then dropped the bombshell!
“I told grandma that my uncle was responsible. But to my surprise, I was actually hair-brushed for not using protection. She told me to go back to my father’s homestead since I was now a ‘grown woman’.”
Prisca’s father did not waste any time when she arrived in Murehwa, and alerted the police to the abuse.
Steve was arrested for rape, but maintained his innocence, arguing that the intercourse had been consensual.
He implicated Moira and she, too, was arrested for being an accomplice.
“It was surprising, though, that granny played the devil’s advocate again. This time, she paid bail for the two and now they have fled the village and are nowhere to be found,” said Prisca.
“In the meantime, I went into labour on December 4, 2014. I think I am strong; I never felt any pain on the day. I, however, delivered through surgery. My father named the baby Tinotenda. I will never forget 2014. I was just a young girl in January and by December, people were calling me ‘Mai Tinotenda’.
“I had never dreamt of becoming a mother since my only dream was to become a nurse. My mother, being a mother herself, of course, helped me a lot. She taught me to be a mother within a month.”
Prisca now enjoys her new role as a mother. She would have loved to see her childhood years through.
However, motherhood was thrust upon her, even as she was a child herself.
She wanted her fugitive uncle and aunt to be punished severely for stealing her innocence.
Like a true mother, though, she holds no grudge or ill-feelings against her son.
He is only a victim of circumstance, just like she was. She loves him dearly, proving that a mother’s heart remains grand, regardless of its owner’s age or physique. So as we say Happy Mother’s Day today, lets remember Prisca and all the young girls who are mothers not by their choice.
This article was published in The Sunday Mail in 2015.
