Adrider Montfort Tengeza

She is blind, but Adrider Montfort Tengeza has never paraded herself along the streets of Blantyre or Limbe to beg for alms. In fact, Tengeza believes that street-begging is tantamount to belittling God’s creation and His loving kindness. Using her skills in knitting, tailoring and home economics, she is teaching fellow women to make baby clothes, baby blankets and bedcovers. Both sighted and visually impaired women flock to her house to learn these skills during weekends. But what sort of a person is this woman? Our reporter, WATIPASO MZUNGU JNR, finds out.

Who is Adrider Montfort Tengeza?

I am from Nkawela Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Chimaliro in Thyolo. I was born on December 18 1969. Let me stress that I was not born blind. I was born with eyes just like you.

Are you comfortable to discuss how you became blind?

Why not, Watipaso? I am as human as you are despite being in this situation. In fact, I don’t consider it a curse. Remember, the Bible says whatever God created is good. So who am I to curse what God made holy? (she laughs) According to my parents, I developed smallpox seven months after my birth. It was so severe that I had sores on both eyes. Apparently, doctors failed to treat the disease, which resulted in my loss of sight. However, I was too young to notice what was happening to me.

How far did you go with your education?

By the grace of God, Catholic missionaries sponsored my education at the then Montfort School of the Blind. I was six years old the time these missionaries approached my parents to have me enrolled at this institution. Thus, I did my standards one to eight there before I got selected to St. Patrick’s Secondary School at Mzedi in Chiradzulu. This was a boys’ school, but a decision was made to enrol me there because it was the only school with a special needs teacher. I lived with the headteacher—a Mr. Kapelemera, since I was the only female student. I thank God for this family because they took care of me until I wrote my Junior Certificate of Education (JCE) examinations, which I passed.

I, however, took the JC exams while receiving treatment at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) for my eye problems. The doctors recommended that my left eye be removed because it was very painful such that I could not sleep or concentrate on my studies.

After undergoing the operation, a missionary named Bro Rudolph, who all along stood by my side, providing all the necessary spiritual as well as humanitarian support, recommended that I be enrolled at Magomero Vocational School. This is where I did tailoring, knitting and home economics. In short, I did not finish my secondary school education.

But did you have other dreams while growing up?

Yes, I wanted to be a Catholic nun. I am married with four children, but I still feel I need to serve the Lord. I am glad I have children and a husband, though.

I see. Tell me about your husband and family.

I am married to Andreck Tengeza who hails from Traditional Authority (T/A) Kachere in Dedza. He, too, is blind and together we have those four children. We got married on November 29 1987 and had our first child–Nicholas–on December 5 1988.

You have said Mr. Tengeza comes from Dedza. So, how and where did you meet him?

We had a celebration day at Magomero Vocational School, attended by president Kamuzu Banda. Tengeza came to participate in the activities. He was a member of a choral group from Malawi Council for the Handicapped (Macoha). Prior to this day, all performing groups including his rehearsed at our school. Since they spent days before the celebration day, we had time to interact and that’s how we fell for each other. At that time, he was working at Macoha Weaving Factory in Bangwe, Blantyre.

How did you find yourself at Macoha?

Mrs. Fatchi facilitated my employment after seeing my potential. What you need to know is that after graduating from Magomero, I used to make different items for sale within my locality. When vacancies  fell at Macoha, Mrs. Fatchi asked me to submit my application letter if I was interested in full-time employment. I succeeded in the interview.

Do you find your job at Macoha interesting?

It’s two-fold. It’s interesting because I get a little something with which I feed my family. I am the only breadwinner because my husband stopped working sometime back. But the salary is very small considering that I have seven people to feed.

What have been the major challenges in your life?

Discrimination! Many people look at us as a nuisance. I like interacting, but some sighted people don’t feel comfortable mixing with someone like me. At times, I have fallen victim to mockery and abuse by sighted people. I have been accused of doing things I never did.

How are you addressing these challenges?

As any human being would have it, I feel the world doesn’t want me. But usually, I ask God to guide me in all my activities. I don’t react unnecessarily for fear of offending other people. As a Catholic, I always recite the Rosary asking God to give me a tender heart.

Have you made any big sacrifices in your life?

Yes. We have adopted two orphaned children from our late relatives. We are paying for their school fees, clothing and feeding them. And when there is nothing to eat, I ask them to pray with us to God for His intervention.

Do you think some women can learn something from you?

Disability is not inability! My call goes to fellow blind women that the solution to our problems does not lie in begging, but working to be independent. Begging will not take us anywhere because even alms-givers will get tired.

What do you like doing in your free time?

I rarely have free time. I always work so that I can make money to supplement my salary. I also like gardening. We have a small family garden.

Do you have a woman that inspires you?

All the Catholic nuns with special mention of Sr. Theresa Mathewe of St. Joseph Convent in Zomba. Her humble and generous life inspires me a lot. Above all, nuns are people who have given their lives to God and I wish I were sighted so I could give mine too. My heart bleeds when I think about them inside the convent while I am outside because I am blind.

What are your future plans?

I would like to educate all my children to a higher level. I want them to be independent and responsible. I thank God that He gave us children despite both us being blind. They love and respect us.

Is there anything you would want us to know about you?

Yes, our house is almost falling down and I have noone to assist us. During rainy season, we hardly sleep because it leaks heavily. I have just been told that a Christian and humanitarian organisation called Umodzi Foundation has offered to provide roofing materials. May God bless the founders and we are praying unceasingly that their mission should be accomplished.