19, pregnant and into car washing

LIFE without a hustle is as good as nothing but a preamble for poverty.

An unmarried and pregnant woman in Bulawayo has caught many’s eyes in the Central Business District with her work of washing vehicles to raise money to look after herself. Car cleaning points have sprouted in Bulawayo but are mostly manned by young boys who approach drivers at every opportunity in return for a few dollars.

But for Nokuthula Ndlovu the fact that she is a woman and that she is pregnant has not stopped her from seizing that opportunity to raise money for her survival through washing cars. Ndlovu, is a 19-year-old from Njube suburb in Bulawayo and is six months pregnant.

Sunday News interviewed Ndlovu who narrated her motivation and inspiration to venture into such a male dominated chore, which most women especially those who are pregnant can only watch and never think of trying. She said she could not just sit at home and mourn about who would provide for her and the unborn baby.

“You know, people can look and laugh at you when you are doing such things like washing cars on the streets but they won’t help you to solve your problems,” said Ms Ndlovu, adding that she makes between $10 and $20 per day.

“I started washing cars after I failed to secure a job as a maid some few months ago, so one day I told myself I can do what these boys who are washing cars in the street can do. I studied their tactics, how they persuade motorists to clean their cars in return for money and I said yes, I can do this. I started from there and I discovered that people accepted me and then I continued with my work.”

She said she has managed to buy a number of items for the baby preparations and food at home.

“I have bought a lot of things for my baby. I am doing this so that I don’t go around begging for money from other people. I accept what I have become and no one can change it. I could have done other things I had in mind but I faced a lot of challenges to raise capital to start my business,” she said.

She said she dropped out of school when she was in Form Two after her parents failed to raise fees. She then went to stay with her grandmother who promised to raise money for her to return to school but she stayed for another three years at home, doing nothing.

“You know, it’s frustrating to just sit and do nothing and you are growing up each year. I really wanted to go to school like my friends but my situation turned things around. While I stayed at home I started going out with a man who proposed love to me. I did not know that he was married since he did not tell me. However, after I discovered that I was pregnant that is when he rejected me with all sorts of insults and I did not force myself on him. He left me and never even communicated with me again. So the only option was to fend for myself and raise what I can for my child.”

According to data commisioned by Zimstat, from the Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey ( ZDHS) 2015, 27,2 percent of adolescent girls in rural areas, compared to 10,3 percent in urban areas have started bearing children, the majority of whom are school dropouts.

Even though there was a slight decrease in the fertility rate among women aged between 15 and 19 since 2010, from 115 to 110 per 1 000 girls, the numbers are still reletively high.

The statistics also show that teenage pregnancies among girls with primary education were more than twice higher than those who attended secondary school.

Ndlovu said when she was young, old men used to entice her with small gifts including sweets and chips for sex. She said many young women were in her predicament and failing to gather enough courage to explore ventures to raise money and look after themselves.

“A lot of young girls are sufferng. I was caught in the web after I started going for men who could give me small things like chips and other things that are of no value. You are happy at that time not knowing the other person’s agenda. Once things are messed up, that’s when you realise their agenda,” she said.

Ndlovu said although her past is sad, she tested HIV-negative when she went for testing after discovering she was pregnant. She does not want to continue on the streets though and has high hopes that when she gives birth, she will be able to have a better life.

“I hope that things change very soon so that I will be able to pursue other things that will enable me to live a better life. It is not over yet. I am planning to go back to school once I get money and at least complete my Ordinary Level studies and then decide on my next step. God has never foresaken us and he will always continue leading us to glory,” says Ndlovu, with a smile, an indication of a person who surely has high hopes for the future.