From Tragedy to Triumph: Vella Misodzi’s Inspiring...

From Tragedy to Triumph: Vella Misodzi’s Inspiring Journey

Gilbert Munetsi

Zim Now Writer

In a quiet village of Murehwa, a young woman named Vella Misodzi has become a symbol of resilience and hope. Her second name, which means "tears" in Shona, tells the story of her life — a journey marked by tragedy, perseverance, and ultimate triumph.

At just 12 years old, Vella’s life took a devastating turn.

On her way home from school, she was electrocuted by live electric cables, a horrific accident that led to the amputation of her right arm and leg. The tragedy struck a week before she was scheduled to sit for her Grade 7 exams.

Against all odds, she insisted on taking the exams straight out of surgery.

But her challenges didn’t end there. Her father abandoned the family, leaving Vella, her siblings, and her mother to fend for themselves in a life fraught with hardship. It wasn’t until the intervention of kind-hearted strangers that a glimmer of hope returned to her life.

Fast-forward five years, and Vella’s story has transformed into one of unyielding determination. At the age of 18, when many of her peers were completing high school, Vella returned to the classroom to start Form One. Despite being the oldest student in her class and facing stigma, she persevered.

Last week, Vella achieved a milestone that silenced her doubters: she passed five subjects in her “O” Level exams, earning three Bs and two Cs. Her journey to this achievement was anything but easy. Every day, she navigated the sandy paths of her village in a wheelchair or on an artificial leg, provided through the generosity of a local corporate donor.

Her dream? To become a journalist, inspired by the role the media played in changing her life. Vella credits her breakthrough to a local journalist who first highlighted her plight, leading to support from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe.

The organization not only paid her school fees but also donated school supplies, including laptops, desktops, and free WiFi for her school.

“I’ve always wanted to be an engineer, but after receiving career guidance, I realized journalism is my true calling,” Vella shared. “I want to inspire others and tell stories that can change lives, just like mine was changed.”

Vella’s story echoes the resilience of other young women in Zimbabwe who have overcome immense challenges. In 2021, 19-year-old Tariro Nyasha from Mutare, who lost both parents and worked as a vendor to pay her school fees, passed her “A” Level exams with flying colors. Similarly, Faith Munyanyi from Gweru, a survivor of gender-based violence, pursued her education while raising her child and went on to become a university graduate.

According to UNICEF, one in three Zimbabwean children face barriers to education, including poverty, disability, and gender-based discrimination. Yet stories like Vella’s remind us that with determination and community support, these barriers can be overcome.

Vella is now focused on pursuing a career in journalism and hopes to use her voice to advocate for others facing similar struggles. “I’ll forever remain indebted to Potraz and everyone who believed in me,” she said.

Her story is a powerful reminder that even in the face of unimaginable hardship, perseverance can light the way to a brighter future.

As Zimbabwe continues to tackle educational inequities, stories like Vella’s serve as beacons of hope for countless others.