Zimbabwe: I am a mother to the motherless

In Ward 9 of Gweru, a quiet but transformative movement is unfolding. One rooted not in political ambition, but in a deep, maternal instinct to protect the most vulnerable. Councillor Nyaradzo Madzikura, who also serves as Deputy Mayor, has long carried a burden on her heart: the faces and unseen struggles of children left behind by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, poverty, and neglect. She speaks of them as “my children,” not as an act of symbolism, but as a profound truth that guides her daily work.

Her journey into caregiving began long before she stepped into public office. But becoming councillor gave her a platform and a responsibility to turn compassion into structured action. “I am a mother to the motherless,” she says, not as a slogan, but as a lived reality shaped by countless painful encounters. Children without school fees; children going to bed hungry; children cycling in and out of poor health because they lacked basic medical attention; and the most heartbreaking, child‑headed families navigating life without adult support. Rather than wait for resources to come, she created her own community-driven movement. She mapped every struggling family in her ward, reached out to well-wishers, and began mobilising school fees, groceries, clothes, and other essentials. Over time, her initiative became a lifeline. Among its most notable acts was securing a wheelchair for a disabled child who had previously been carried everywhere on a relative’s back. “I am now independently mobile,” the child later said — one of many small miracles born from her quiet persistence.

A Visible Transformation

Today, the transformation in Ward 9 is unmistakable. Ten children who were previously out of school are now back in the classroom. One of them, once destined for idle days in the streets, travelled to Swaziland and won a gold medal at COSSASA. “If I hadn’t taken him back to school, we would have lost a great talent,” she reflects with pride. But the change goes far beyond education. Before her interventions, many children spent their days roaming the streets. Vulnerable to drug abuse, early sexual activity, and petty crime. She intervened early, some days personally escorting them to clinics for rehabilitation and counselling.

For those living with HIV, she ensured that every child was linked to nurses and supported to adhere to their ART medication. She supplemented their nutrition, knowing that treatment means little without proper food. Her work has not only improved health outcomes; it has restored dignity and hope. Community acceptance, however, has not always been easy. Some families resisted her involvement, preferring privacy over external help. When that happened, she approached each case with sensitivity, negotiating gently and involving Social Welfare only when absolutely necessary.

How Change Took Root

This transformation did not happen by chance. From her office as councillor and Deputy Mayor, she identified gaps and potential partners. She sought out sponsors, presented her vision, and documented every activity to track progress. While she intentionally avoided photographing HIV-positive minors to protect their privacy, she keeps records of distribution activities, success stories, and the evolving journeys of the children she supports.

Before her interventions, the ward was marked by idleness, neglected health, and emotional despair. Today, the same ward is filled with school-going youth, community gardens, support groups, and peer educators. “We did not lose a mother when ours passed on,” say twins Learah and Lilly. “We now have a mother.”

Sustaining and Scaling the Change

Councillor Madzikura believes sustainability lies in empowerment, not dependency. She therefore engaged professional counsellors to equip the children with life skills, self-worth, and resilience. She also established nutritional gardens, both a source of food security and an opportunity for children to learn practical skills.

She built support groups composed of caregivers, health workers, and community members who now monitor the children’s needs beyond her direct reach. Even among the youth themselves, she created peer educators who support each other, share information, and reduce risky behaviour. The system now operates like an extended family, exactly as she intended.

Evidence of Impact

The evidence is both documented and visible on the ground. Videos and photographs show children receiving groceries, learning in school, or tending to gardens. A once immobile girl now moves freely in her wheelchair. A rising athlete represents Zimbabwe. Most importantly, the once-idle streets of Ward 9 now echo with purposeful activity. A non-biological mother gave me a second chance, says Shabdeen — one of many young voices testifying to the power of compassion.

For Councillor Madzikura, each smile she witnesses is a reminder of why she began - It is always nice, she says, to see sad faces turn into happy ones after doing a good job.

And so, she continues, mothering the motherless, restoring dreams, and proving that leadership, at its best, is an act of love.

By: Nyaradzo Madzikura