The recent annoncement by the government of Zimbabwe that the COVID-19 restrictions would be further extended by 2weeks and schools by a further 3 weeks has already started taking a toll on the lives of the vulnerable and marginalised in our society.
Amakhosikazi media shares the circumstances of a few school age going girls, to reflect how COVID-19 in general and the subsequent restrictions and prolonged closure of schools is affecting their daily lives and ultimately their futures.
In the image above is Phathi Donga (not her real name), she is 16 years old and is meant to be in school doing her fourth form. However, she has not been able to attend school since the form 4s reopened because she has to help her mother to sell some goods around the Bulawayo city center. While her mother is stationed at Greens Supermarket near the city hall, she in turn moves around selling at the other end of the City Hall. She has no immediate school plans as her mother cannot afford to pay her school fees. Making this worse is the need to raise funds for food to feed her other siblings who are at home. As such her school fees has become less of a priority.
Samantha helps guide her blind grandfather as he asks for money around the Bulawayo CBD
While 10year old Samantha Nyathi (not her real name) above is off school, she has to accompany her blind grandfather (70) as he begs for help around the city of Bulawayo. Samantha’s parents are late. They passed on when she was 4years old. Samantha and her grandfather live in Luveve and get into town daily to try and raise funds for food and her school fees.
Below is Siphiwo, (19) (not her real name). She lives in Nguboyenja and is a single teenage mom trying to make ends meet to feed herself and her child. Siphiwo started selling at the second hand clothes stalls last month employed by a lady who owns the stall. Siphiwo didn’t manage to complete her education due to financial difficulties that her family has been faced with since the start of the COVID-19 virus in early 2020.
Do you as a young woman or girl have a story to share about the impact that the Covid-19 virus and its restrictions have had on your schooling and life in general. We would like to hear from you. Please follow and comment on Twitter @AmakhosikaziFM, or on Facebook and instagram at AmakhosikaziMedia
