Matenga’s Work. The Birth of Matenga

1 Matenga was born in the land of King Mutekedza.

2 Her clan was the Vashawasha of Chinamora.

3 At the beginning of Matenga’s story, Matenga , daughter of Nyamushanya, lived in the land of Renji; her village head was Jiti, under King Mutekedza.

4 In their household, three children were born.

5 The first was Ronganai, then Huchu, a boy, and then Matenga .

6 She was Nyamushanya’s child.

7 She never came to know her father and mother.

8 They died while she was still a child, in October 1914.

9 Her father died first; her mother was left behind and later died as well.

10 Her parents died when she was still young; she never came to know them.

11 She was left as an orphan.

12 She grew up, and her sister later married.

13 Her brother Huchu’s wife, Nyamushanya, also looked after her.

14 When she grew up, she married Mr. Chaza, but she did not want to be separated from the church.

15 In Chaza’s village, Mr. Chaza served as the village head under King Svosve.

16 They were married in the Wesleyan Church.

17 Later she became a senior leader in the Ruwadzano .

18 She loved the church more than worldly things.

19 Later she had children; the first was a girl.

20 In all, four girls and four boys.

21 Of the eight, four died, and four were left. Those were the only children she bore.