By Nyasha Dube, Zvishavane
There has been an improvement in shaping conversations on disability and disability inclusion, however little attention has been given to women who care for persons with disabilities, yet they do the majority of day to day care of their relatives or children.
Most of their efforts are not given enough credit as unpaid care work is often perceived as a gender role, therefore natural and part of being a woman.
The difficult socio-economic state of the country, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, further complicates caregiving tasks for women.
For Vitalis Nyoni, a Zvishavane based female cobbler, vendor and carer of her visually impaired husband, life has been tough but she has remained resilient.
Caring for her husband, six children and having to fend for the family has not been a walk in the park for Nyoni.
“I have been a cobbler and vendor since 2014 and I started mending shoes when my husband development eyesight problems. I used to enjoy shoe making as a hobby but I did not know how to repair them. I asked my husband to teach he how to mend shoes so we could earn a living,” said Nyoni.
Asked on why she decided to venture into a trade usually viewed as a man’s job by patriarchal standards, Nyoni said she had no other option.
“My husband was hit by an iron piece whilst fixing hoes for sale and this worsened his sight problems. From then things became difficult. At one point we survived on wild fruits (hacha and matamba). I had to do something for us to survive. I moved to urban Zvishavane and started going door to door repairing shoes and people were fascinated “
Vitalis Nyoni (Cobbler and Vendor)
She says she was later advised to find a vending stall where she works from now.
“Things have been better for me and my family. I managed to clear fees arrears at my children’s schools within a year. Right now I don’t feel the void even though my husband is not working because I am able to fend for my family,” she said.
Women like Nyoni, who carry care giving burdens and are also employed in the informal sector are often overwhelmed and struggle to find balance.
This also affects their earnings, health insurance and they are oftenly discriminated by society. External support is usually limited due to the stigma around disability.
According to a report by the Institute for Community Development Trust (ICOD Zimbabwe) on the impact of COVID-19 on persons with disabilities, persons with disabilities and their caregivers were identified as the most vulnerable to the pandemic and lockdown because of experiences such as domestic abuse, infringement of rights, lack of access to health care, food shortages among others.
Nyoni’s husband, Ocean Sibanda, however says he admires his wife’s strength as she has managed to keep the family together despite his sight problems.
“I have sight problems which started in 2002 and this became worse when I was hit in the eye by an iron piece, I became partially blind. My wife is the one who makes sure that the family is well taken care of, but sometimes the burden is too much on her.”
Ocean Sibanda (Nyoni’s husband)
He added that sometimes his wife’s earnings are not enough to cater for all their needs.
“We just share ideas and she goes to work for the money. I wish my condition would improve instead of going totally blind. I hope the remaining eye gets better so that I don’t become idle,” Sibanda said.
Most caregivers of persons with disabilities are self-reliant and often suffer finance related stress due to high costs of care and limited sources of income.
Nyoni says she has always wanted to register her business but is facing some challenges.
“I wanted to formally register my business as a Small and Medium Enterprise but I cannot due to financial constraints. A lot is expected of me and the costs sometimes become overwhelming,” she said.
Nyoni says she needs assistance with catering for her husband’s medical bills.
“My husband must get treatment for the one eye which is partially blind so it can get better. One day he even fell off a bridge and broke his leg, thank God he did not die.”
She also wishes for her children to get education and be able to take care of themselves.
“I have twins who are in secondary school and I would appreciate if one of them could benefit from BEAM. I want my children to go to school because a time will come when I can no longer take care of them. Their lives should not end just because their father is visually impaired, I want them to do better in life. I also plead with everyone to come and support my business so I can fend for my family, I may be a woman but I am good at what I do,” said Nyoni.
Nyoni urged her fellow women to work hard even in the face of difficulties, as it is during these times that one discovers their hidden talents.