Shamva – Marbel Manyaura, a 36-year-old mother of two from Shamva, Mashonaland Central, is battling a rare and debilitating condition that has seen her breasts grow to an astonishing metre in length, causing her immense pain and social isolation. The condition, which also causes excessive bleeding, has left her struggling to care for her young children and has led to her abandonment by her husband.
Manyaura, originally from Mushowani in Shamva, is now residing with her elder sister, Ottillia Kachanzi (45), at Headman Tekedza’s homestead in Kandava, Seke, as she seeks help and support. Her plight highlights the challenges faced by many women in Zimbabwe who lack access to adequate healthcare and social support.
The ordeal began when Manyaura was just 18 years old. “We were born as seven children to our parents at Headman Marimira’s homestead in Mushowani, Shamva, and both our parents have since passed away. When I was about 18 years old, my breasts grew larger than those of my peers,” she recounts. However, the condition took a dramatic turn for the worse in 2023. “But this problem worsened in 2023 when my breasts started to swell, becoming painful and elongated, and they continue to grow to this day. They are now almost a metre long, and I fear they might end up dragging on the ground,” she explains, her voice filled with distress.
The physical burden of the condition is immense. “These breasts are now preventing me from even working because of their weight; when I bend down, they drag on the ground,” Manyaura laments. Adding to her hardship, she is unable to breastfeed her children due to the condition, forcing her to rely on expensive formula milk. “When I went to my husband in Goneso, Hwedza, the problem worsened after I had my first child, who is now three years old. Both my breasts just started swelling and elongating; they don’t produce milk, which means both my children, including the youngest, who is seven months old, rely on purchased milk to survive. I bleed a lot of blood, which can fill up to 5 litres or more, from these breasts,” she says.
The condition has also taken a devastating toll on her personal life. Her husband, Edmond Hwande, whom she married in Hwedza, could not cope with the situation and eventually left her. “My two children, the elder who is three years old and the younger who is seven months old, have no food or proper clothing. My husband abandoned me because of these breasts, saying he could no longer cope,” Manyaura reveals, her voice heavy with sorrow.
Desperate for help, Manyaura sought medical attention at Karanda Mission Hospital in Mt Darwin, but was unable to afford the required US$250 for treatment. “I went to Karanda Mission Hospital in Mt Darwin and was told that US$250 was needed, which I don’t have, so I came back. I now spend most of my time lying down because of the weight of the breasts,” she says.
The social stigma associated with her condition has further compounded her suffering. “My problem is that I am mocked by other people who say many things, such as that I am a possessed woman or that I am being breastfed by goblins. When I walk, people point at me,” Manyaura says, her voice tinged with pain.
With no permanent home and limited resources, Manyaura is now relying on the support of her sister and other relatives. “My younger sister is the last born in our family, and because of this problem, I am now standing with her and other relatives. We no longer have parents, and her husband has abandoned her; her children have no provider other than us. The most important thing we want is for her to get money for treatment so that her children can get food and clothing,” says Kachanzi, highlighting the family’s desperate need for assistance.
Medical professionals have weighed in on Manyaura’s condition, urging her to seek specialist care. Dr. Abigail Jemedze, a gynaecologist, advises that “This woman needs to be seen by specialist breast doctors and undergo scans and all the necessary procedures.” Dr. Innocent Kundiona, a general surgeon, echoes this sentiment, suggesting that Manyaura may be suffering from breast cancer or an ulcer. “She may have breast cancer or what we call an ‘ulcer,’ so she needs to go to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals to the Breast Clinic; that’s where everything should start. The chance of her having cancer is high,” he warns.
Traditional healers have also offered their perspectives on the situation. Mr. George Kandiyero, the head of the Zinatha organisation, believes that “This woman’s problem requires her to go everywhere, to both conventional and traditional doctors, because it is surprising. But let’s also know that witches exist.”
Religious leaders, too, have offered their support. Pastor Hazvinei Muchefa of RECFEMI Ministries in Harare says that “This woman has a big and sad problem; just know that all problems are brought by evil spirits, so she needs to be prayed for. With God, we say nothing is impossible.”
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