
Newman Musimwa
361 posts

Newman Musimwa
@MusimwaNewman
Open to Better













I met my father for the first time at 14. Before that, he was just, a concept. My parents separated when I was under 5, so I have zero memory of him in my childhood. 1988,mum took us to Lusulu, Lupane to meet him and also to meet Grandma. That was also the first and last time I met my paternal grandmother. The visit? Awkward. He had another wife and 4 kids. To be fair, they treated us well. We played, ate, laughed, no issues there. But when he called me? I would freeze. Couldn’t say “Baba.” The word felt foreign. I’d just walk up and stand there like I’m waiting for further instructions 😅 He’d ask, “Kungani ungasabeli kanti?” (Why don’t you answer?) How do you explain that the word “Baba” never lived in your mouth to your own father?🤷🏽♂️😀 Fast forward - Form 4. Mum could only afford 3 subjects. I needed 7. From memory - total sum required was around ZW$400. That included other associated exam registration fees. She wrote to him for help. His reply? “I have other kids here that I have to look after.” The tone in the letter was not nice at all. Mum made the mistake - left letter on the bed. Read it while she was at work. That line - still echoes. I almost missed my O’levels. Deadline passed. Got a 2-week grace period. I still studied all 7 like the money was guaranteed. (Delusion or faith - You decide 😅) Last day of the deadline, money showed up. My mum’s cousin brother stepped in. I wrote all 7 subjects - grateful. But I also watched my mum struggle to pay that money back later. Painful to watch. She eventually did. Now here’s the funny part, Today in family WhatsApp groups, when contributions are needed, people act like we all started life on the same level 😅 Also my dad is still alive. That word “baba” still a strange concept.😭 Meanwhile I’m there remembering: “Some of us almost didn’t even write O’levels, please be gentle” 😂 Life looks stable now. But I know how thin that line was. Sometimes survival isn’t about strength, it’s just one person showing up at the right time. Be honest: what’s one moment in your life where things could have gone completely left, but didn’t? 👇

















