Zimuto girl finally gets her leg amputated
Ellen Mlambo
MIRROR REPORTER
MASVINGO-Perseverance Marashauta (16) who suffered from a non-healing ulcer finally got her right leg amputated from above the knee on Saturday.
The surgery carried out by Dr Tatenda Tariro Mauswa at Masvingo General Hospital came thanks to donations of US$2 000 made by well-wishers and the free operation covered by the Department of Social Welfare.
Perseverance’s mother, Judith Matsilele spoke to The Mirror in an interview and said the operation was successful, and the girl is now free from pain.
The operation almost failed to get off the ground as Perseverance’s mother, an unemployed widow, could not raise the money needed to buy drugs for the amputation because the hospital had none because of the harsh economic environment.
Matsilele of Gwati Village in Zimuto then appealed to The Mirror Helpline for well-wishers to come in. Marashauta had a baby at 15 following an unfortunate incident and is now appealing for an artificial leg.
The Mirror Helpline would like to thank various individuals and companies for their kind donations that saw Perseverance receiving US$1 672 and ZWL$ 343 900.
The contributors are Jacquie Gulliver (US$500), Bikita Minerals /Sinomine (US$500), Judith Mvurume (US$500), Zimbabwe Revenue Authority Trade Union (ZIMRATU ZWL$ 343 900 +US$ 47), Lloyd Chiyangwa (US$ 40), Gift Chivurawa US$20, Trust Moyo US$10, Tungai Gamba (US$5), ZWL$5 000 airtime and other donors who preferred anonymity.
“After reading the article published by The Mirror, we saw it fit as a union to help towards the cause,” said ZIMRATU National Young Woman Treasurer General Esther Makore.
Prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono took the plight of the girl to his social media platform handles, and Jacquie Gulliver donated US$500.
Matsilele thanked The Mirror for publicising her daughter’s case.
The ulcer was eating away the flesh from under her foot up to the bone. Perseverance was not ready to speak much after the operation but could give smiles to The Mirror crew when it visited her at the hospital yesterday.
Perseverance had to drop out of school in 2020 because of the nagging ulcer and spent two months in the hospital.
