Consider Mudenda

I was born in a family of five. I am the fifth one, plus the 7th last of my stepfather. I was born 1 January 1984, aging 23 years now. My mother had five children from her first marriage. My father died in 1983. From there my mother waited for a period of one year in a single status, then married again. During the second marriage whe got seven children, which in totals to 12 children. The name of my mother is Evelyne M.Hakanzaba, and my father's name is Jailus Namwiindwa. My stepfather's name is Timothy Nga’ke.

My mother told me that two months after I was conceived, my father told my mother that life had become difficult in terms of finances and food. Those and other things that could support life were not there, thus "may I leave you with three children and the unborn baby so as to go and find a job". He was a tractor driver. Thus he went to a place in the large farms where he could find tractor to drive. My mother just agreed in a blind way. I say so because where my father told her he was going to was not really where he went. He went away and did not come back. Also he did not write any letter. At that time letters were common medium of communication. Thus my mother did not know where he was. Only in the second year of his disappearance he decided to write. The letter just to informed my mother “take care of the children...”. It contained incomplete sentences. But in the very last sentence the letter said “I am divorce to you. So, find a way to support your children. Always, J.Namwiinwa". Actually, in the fourth month my mother had received information to say my father was not in Hachitema as he mentioned, but in Kitwe, in Zambia's Copperbelt Province. It was there that he died in tragic road accident.

I started my Grade One in 1991 with the support of my stepfather. He supported me up to Grade Six. Then he told me that he would stop supporting me because he did not receive benefits for whatsoever he was doing for me. It took time for me to believe that those words were out of his mouth!

From Grade Six up to Grade Eleven I was supported by MCC. They stopped sponsoring me in Grade Eleven. From then till completing Grade Twelve in 2006, I received supports from others. I would love to challenge the reader of this posting that 'faith and effort' are very important tool for anyone who wish to pass through any difficult path in life. Thank God who never failed me in any way, and the people who contributed to my education.

I did all the following effort in order for me to complete school, but of course God did the rest:

• Raising chickens and sell them when they grew up. Through this I was able to buy things like: Books, Pens, Pencils, Shoes, School Uniforms, etc;
• Keeping some goats for selling and for buying food such maize and relish;
• Seek for some piece of works, which payed my rental fees near the school campus, and supported buying clothes;
• Heaping stones for building activities at Macha. Whenever payments were done, I paid for school fees in Grade Ten, first term;
• Explain the problem to other trusted people. When they understood they supported with funds or any other supportive materials.

After I completed school in 2006, I joined LinkNet in Macha. I started as an apprentice to skilled people at LinkNet, especially Mr. Preckson Hakanema. I would love to be an Expert in Information Technology (IT) up until I will reach the stage  where I will be a “Specialist”. I wish to earn a Masters Degree in IT. As at now I take up tasks as deputy LITA instructor.

I got married in April 2007, and this was one of my life objectives to achieve. As at now, I am working as LinkNet Associate at LITA. Praise God for all opportunities He has giving me, most especially the 'training in leadership' from Grade Four up to where I am now.