Blindness Stole His Future — Seke Man Now Begs to Survive
A 30-year-old man from Masona, Seke, is pleading for urgent assistance after losing his eyesight just two weeks into his construction engineering studies at Harare Polytechnic in 2020.
Onisimo Tambure, who had self-funded his education after passing seven O-Level subjects, says his life collapsed overnight — leaving him blind, unemployed, and struggling to feed his young family.
“I went to school paying my own fees. I got accepted at Harare Polytechnic and paid everything required. But within two weeks, my right eye started seeing smoke and hurting.
“Then the other eye followed, and I lost my sight completely,” Tambure said.
He sought medical attention at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, where five doctors examined him and ran blood tests.
Despite extensive checks, no cause was found.
“I was examined by five doctors. My blood was tested and everything came out clean. But my eyes shut down. That was the end of my education.
“It became clear this was the work of witchcraft from relatives who don’t want me to succeed,” he said.
Tambure, originally from Chiendambuya in Rusape under Sabhuku Tambure, had previously operated a grocery business in Mabvuku before going bankrupt.
He says his condition has left him unable to work or pay rent, forcing his family to rely on begging.
“Since this happened, I can’t do anything. We stayed with my in-laws in Njanja for five months before moving to my aunt’s place in Masona. My relatives turned their backs on me,” he said.
His wife, Chipo Muringani (23), says the family is living in extreme poverty.
“My husband can’t see or work. My parents chased us from their home. We now live with his aunt, but his relatives don’t help. We need support for his treatment and to send our children to school,” she said.
The couple has two children, both approaching school age.
Tambure says he is seeking help from prophets, traditional healers, and medical professionals.
“I want to go back to school if my sight returns. I thank my wife for staying with me. Another woman would have left. My eyes shut completely on February 11, 2020,” he said.
He also revealed that his misfortunes began in 2017 when he was conned out of US$400 by fraudsters who promised job training.
“Since then, nothing good has happened to me. I just want a small project to do with my wife’s help. We don’t even have food,” he said.
Those willing to assist the family can contact them on 0771 842 929.
Medical expert Dr Innocent Kundiona urged Tambure to seek help from qualified eye specialists.
Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (Zinatha) president George Kandiero said the condition could be linked to spiritual attacks and recommended consulting traditional practitioners.
Pastor Hazvinei Muchefa echoed the call for urgent intervention.
—Afrogazette
