A cloud of sorrow hangs over the Saidi family in Harare as they grapple with the tragic loss of their daughter, Lisa, who died just two hours after giving birth, H-Metro has reported.
The young mother, aged 21, succumbed to complications after welcoming her baby into the world, leaving behind a newborn child and a family struggling to cope with the devastating loss.
Adding to their grief is the alleged absence of support from the child’s father, Chancellor Chidziva, who is a married man.
Lisa’s family claims that Chidziva has not been forthcoming with assistance for the child, despite acknowledging his paternity.
Lisa’s uncle, Cassim Saidi, paints a heartbreaking picture of the young mother’s struggles.
“Lisa went to Harare from Kadoma where she was doing a course on beauty therapy. She then met Chidziva, they started dating and she got pregnant,” he recounts.
“Chidziva didn’t deny responsibility and advised her that she couldn’t join him at his home since he was married. Lisa then went back home to Kadoma and advised her relatives, her aunts and sisters to tell her father about the situation. They teamed up and visited Chidziva who told them that he couldn’t accommodate her at his house since he is married,” said her uncle Cassim Saidi.
Despite acknowledging his responsibility, Chidziva’s actions seem to contradict his words. He reportedly left Lisa to fend for herself, even after promising to find her alternative accommodation. He would visit her occasionally, bringing buns and a soft drink, but his support was fleeting.
“He even came to meet with us and we have been to his workplace and he told us to leave Lisa, who he called his wife, promising to find her alternative accommodation. He then said, he would take her to his cousin’s relative and we left her under his welfare,” said Saidi.
“When relatives went back, he took Lisa to a lodge where he booked for some days but he would only visit her here and there. We were told he would, at times, visit holding buns and a soft drink. He did this for almost two weeks until he failed to pay. Lisa was then chased away from the lodge and her clothes were taken for not paying.”
Lisa’s ordeal continued after she was chased away from the lodge. She was found unconscious in the Whitecliff area and taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital. The hospital bill, which remains unpaid, reached US$300.
Lisa’s family, burdened by the loss of their daughter and the responsibility of caring for her newborn child, are now appealing to well-wishers for assistance.
The baby, now close to two months old, is surviving on handouts, as Lisa’s mother, who is disabled, is unable to provide for her granddaughter.
“The child is surviving from handouts; no one can take care of the child. Kubasa kwacho vakati vachabatsira but no help and soon we will be going to the police. Mwana ari kudawo help, we are appealing to the well-wishers to help the child survive,” said Saidi.
The family’s plea for help highlights the devastating impact of Chidziva’s alleged neglect. The newborn child, innocent and vulnerable, is now facing an uncertain future, relying on the kindness of strangers for survival.
The Saidi family’s story is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by many families in Zimbabwe, where poverty and lack of support systems can leave vulnerable individuals and their families struggling to cope.
It is a call to action for individuals and organisations to step up and offer support to those in need, especially children who are left behind in the wake of tragedy.
