Boy with disability beats able bodied in 5km run

A 14-year-old Bulawayo boy with disability defied all odds on Saturday when he won a family fun marathon, beating able-bodied competitors.

With an amputated right leg and walking with aid of crutches, Lovemore Munashe Mavushe, a Grade Seven pupil at Maphisa Primary School in Sizinda emerged champion when he came first in a 5km race.

Spectators were left in surprise at the end of the event, which was hosted by Cure Children's Hospital.

His mother, Emerenziana Shumba (50), said she could not believe how Lovemore did it.

She narrated to Chronicle how her son was born without any disability but had his right leg amputated in 2018 following a freak incident.

"When I gave birth to him, he did not have any disability, he stayed for four years walking normally until he fell (while playing).

We took him to Mpilo but the machines were not working.

I took him to UBH where they just gave him painkillers since there was no visible damage on the leg," she recalled.

"The next day his leg was swollen, we took him back and they admitted him for a week and operated his leg and applied a plaster on it.

"When the plaster was removed, a lot of pus was produced, and after that the leg started developing wounds and rotting until the whole bone was exposed."

Ms Shumba said her son had to live in pain and struggled to walk until Heart of Love donated money for him to go to Zambia Cure Children's Hospital in 2018 where the leg was finally amputated.

"Lovemore was the first to accept that he was losing his leg before anyone else in the family. He would say things like ‘rest in peace my leg'," said Ms Shumba.

She said her son loved athletics which is why he entered the fun run competition after he registered at Bulawayo's Cure Children's Hospital.

Cure Children's Hospital of Zimbabwe specialises in the treatment and care of children with physical disabilities.

The facility opened its doors in January and got fully licensed to operate in February and was officially opened by President Mnangagwa in May as the first free orthopedic hospital in the country.

It provides free treatment to persons aged 18 and below who suffer from neglected clubfoot, bowed legs, cleft lips, untreated burns, and other treatable disabilities.

Ms Shumba said she was surprised that her son won the competition against able bodied people.

"I was very surprised when he won. When the contest started children were running and us parents were walking behind.

In my mind I was thinking that I will catch Lovemore but I didn't," she said.

"I only found him at the finishing line and was told that he actually came first."

Speaking to Chronicle, Lovemore expressed excitement over his rare victory saying despite his physical condition, he never thought he would win a race.

"I felt very pleased and happy because I never knew that my ability weighs to the level of winning a 5km run against able bodied people who were running on both legs," he said.

"I have never been intimidated by the people who are able bodied when it comes to sport because I believe in myself, but this one surprised me."

The family is appealing for well-wishers to donate a wheelchair and crutches to Lovemore.