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My name is *Ntando* I am a 17 year old single mother currently living at Musasa shelter in Bulawayo. I was born and bred in the communal lands of Nkayi to a peasant family. I was born with a condition called epilepsy and the situation affected my education.
I failed to start school at the required age of 6 years because I was frequently experiencing feats. It was very painful to stay at home while other children were going to school but there was nothing I could have done. My parents later decided to send me school when I was 11 years old. Unfortunately, I managed to go to school up to grade 5 and my parent said that they no longer afford to pay my school fees.
When I dropped out of school at 16 years I was left with no option but look for employment in Bulawayo so as to take care of myself. I got a job as a house maid and I was working for 46 year old widower with two children. My responsibilities included doing house chores and accompanying the children to and from school. I was happy because I was now earning money to take care of myself.
My happiness did not last long because one night my employer sneaked into my bedroom and tried to have sexual intercourse with me. I resisted his demands and he beat me. I was afraid to report the case to anyone and I remained silent. The next day my employer sneaked into my room again and he raped me. I failed to stop him because of the fear of what he could have done to me. The man continued abusing me and he was now in the habit of sneaking into my room to have unprotected sex with me. I had no one to talk to and I had nowhere to go. The fear that was instilled in me forced me to remain in that house while treated as a sex slave.
The forced sexual encounters resulted in pregnancy. I was not aware that I was pregnant until the pregnancy was six months old. After I realised that I was pregnant I reported the case to my boss’ workplace. They called him and notified him of the issue but he denied ever having sex with me. His workmates referred me to the police. Unfortunately, the police said that there was nothing possible they could have done because I delayed in reporting the case. They said that there was no way they were going to have the evidence to prove that I was raped and fall pregnant. They also said that the pregnancy cannot be terminated because it was now more than 3 months old.
All my efforts to seek justice hit the brick wall and I was left with no one to help me. I was later referred to Musasa Shelter by a good Samaritan. When I went to Musasa they told me that there is nothing much they can do at that moment and they had to wait until I gave birth. After I gave birth they helped me to file a case and the man denied responsibility. The court ordered him to go for a paternity test to prove that he is not the father of my child. Right now we are waiting for the paternity test because they had given him 3 months to do so. Musasa has also helped me to apply for child maintenance but nothing has materialized as yet because the man still insists that he never had sex with me.
What I am only longing for is for the speedy processing of the issue so that I will get maintenance for my baby. That will give me the chance to leave Musasa Shelter and go back to my rural home in Nkayi. When I go back to Nkayi I wish to start a business, selling bread and drinks during lunchtimes at workplaces. I hope that the business will sustain me.