Some good Samaritans from the area took Mazengera back to her widowed mother, who never anticipated that any sane person would do something like that to her daughter.

This environmental degradation distresses locals, including 51-year-old cobbler Asima Kapill, popularly known in the area as Banda.

Sometime in March 1962, a humble wedding took place in Rusape, Manicaland province, about 170km east of Salisbury, now Harare.

Curious to understand their enduring love story, NewsDay travelled to the middle-density suburb for a chat.

Tatenda's plight, unable to attend school due to physical frailty, reflects a common issue in many rural areas.

Parents are forced to make difficult choices to survive, often turning to their children for support.