Coming from a poor family in Zambia is another disease.

My family and I have suffered for being Zambians. I came from Eastern Province to Copperbelt then to Lusaka.

So as I was on the Copperbelt when I heard about an organization offering scholarship . I applied and after some months, they called me to be near so I can be attending workshops. I told my auntie who’s been there for me. She arranged for my transport money and I traveled to Lusaka.

Excitedly, I attended every workshop and I must say I contributed the most and those directors were very surprised I would do that better. This gave hope I will be given the scholarship and when I told auntie and mum, they were very excited.

You see mum in the village had even started drying Chibwabwa (pumpkin leaves) and sweet potatoes for me in the hope that the only child out of 8 children who made it to grade 12 will finally be in university.

But one day as I was preparing for the usual workshops, the director called saying I shouldn’t go to the workshop, instead I should meet here at his office in the afternoon. I thought finally am given the scholarship. And university here I come. To my shock, the director said it’s not by intelligence that people are getting Scholarship but it’s to use what you have. So what are you going to give me so I can give you the scholarship? I told him to tell me what exactly he meant. And he said I don’t have to behave like I was a child. He said it’s either I give a k5000 ($220.55) or I have sex with him.

Of course, I don’t have money and my mum in the village can’t manage that amount of money as she is also suffering corruption with Farmers Input Support Program (FISP). She has been registering for years but she is not given her fertilizer. Sex? Ooh my!  I was raped twice so I hate sex!  I left I told my mum and auntie. They were disappointed. And I gave up.

Lusaka Province