Mavis Mada, the 18-year-old woman who was recording on video while being brutally assaulted by five young women for four hours before the same video went viral, is now all smiles after being offered a free nurse aide training opportunity at Pacific Hospital in Mabvuku.
The heartbreaking ordeal of Mavis, that was captured on video by her five attackers stunned the nation. Her mother said she could not watch the video for even a minute as the vide was too chilling. She was assaulted in the most barbarous manner, including shoving sticks into her private parts, an ordeal with left her bleeding.
Initial reports claimed that Mavis had been killed during the attack – but her mother, Sebia Muchenjekwa later confirmed to the news crew that her daughter was alive, though she was badly injured.
Vimbai Mike, 19 and her four other accomplices who are aged below 18 were arrested on charges of aggravated indecent assault following the incident which happened in Mupfuuri Village in Wedza.
Speaking after being enrolled for the nurse aide training programme, Mavis, a devout member of the ZCC church, says she is now enjoying this new lease of life that is filled with enthusiasm.
“I cannot believe that it’s me among the nurse aides following what I went through, at the hands of those five women, in Hwedza. Allow me to thank Dr Mandaza of Pacific Hospital for giving me free treatment. I am now feeling better,” she said.
The Mabvuku-based Pacific Hospital has offered Mavis a wholly-free three-month nurse aide training program after offering to treat her at no expenses to her when the teenager’s video went viral last month.
“The Hospital saw it fit to plough back into the community by developing people in our society. Mavis will be staying at the premises and receive training for free. By training her, the Hospital wants to equip and develop her, apart from treating her,” said Nyasha Smileage Chidzingwa, who is the Sister-in-Charge at Pacific Hospital.
After being offered free treatment, the hospital’s human resource manager, Anne Sakala took Mavis on a tour of the facilities. Before beginning her training, she was able to meet some of the patients in maternity wards.
For Mavis to make her way from a victim of domestic violence, to a nurse aide trainee, it proves that God’s grace has located her. Her story is a testament to the power of hope and the human spirit.
When the video went viral, Zimbabwe Republic Police national spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, while confirming the arrest of Mavis’ attackers, said the suspects lured Mavis to Vimbai Mike’s homestead after lying to her that they wanted to give her vegetable seedlings.
“The suspects locked the victim in one of the huts and stripped her naked. The five suspects took turns to assault the victim with switches and went on to insert three sticks into the victim’s private parts whilst recording a video. The victim fell unconscious and the suspects poured water on her before freeing her naked at 1500 hours,” he said at the time.
