Baby or bust
Livhuwani and Tendamudzima are desperate for a child.
Weekdays SABC2 (*192) 21:00
Livhuwani (Anzani Tshivhase) has everything a wife could ask for: a devoted husband Tendamudzima (Nat Ramabulana), a secure job and a comfy lifestyle. But she feels incomplete. “They’ve been married long enough, now they want a baby,” says Anzani, with Nat adding that “they need an heir to take over their legacy when they’re dead”. Livhuwani makes an extreme move on Tuesday 6 February when she turns her back on Western methods. As Anzani explains, “They aren’t young anymore and Livhu is desperate, so she takes the traditional route and visits a sangoma.”
NERVOUS WRECK
Tendamudzima isn’t home a lot at the moment because of business commitments and his new trip on Friday 2 February angers his wife. “He isn’t always around when Livhuwani wants to try for a baby,” laughs Nat. “It’s also not easy for him – he wants a child but his wife’s obsession is working on his nerves. It’s getting to the point of concern for him.” Seeing her friends and family with kids makes the situation worse for Livhu and “in her desperation, she will do anything to fall pregnant,” explains Anzani. “Maybe there’s muti that the sangoma can prescribe her to help her fall pregnant.” But the medication doesn’t work and by Monday 12 February, “She is devastated and can’t understand why she has to be the unlucky one,” sighs Anzani. Her hubby understands her frustration because he wants to be a father and the actress adds that “they will be amazing, loving parents. They have so much love to give”.
UNBORN PROBLEMS
There’s another issue: what if they had a girl; who would carry on the family heritage? “Livhuwani is so desperate she wouldn’t mind having a girl, as long as it’s their baby,” laughs Anzani. But for Tendamudzima, it’s something completely different. “He really wants a boy – only a man can be heir to their legacy and that is something he and Livhuwani quarrel about,” explains Nat. Adoption is a solution, “But that will only be considered if there is really no way out,” Nat confesses. At the rate they’re going, adoption could be the only way they’ll have a child, but as Anzani stresses, “Livhuwani doesn’t care. She wants a child. End of story.”