On 15th March 2023, what was meant to be a routine morning for Nyasha Nyoka turned into a nightmare. Like most school days, Nyasha struggled to wake her teenage daughter, Tanaka, who had a habit of ignoring her alarm and resisting morning routines.
After multiple attempts, Nyasha had reached her limit. Frustrated, she yanked the blanket off Tanaka and said, “Panofa munhu nhasi ukasamuka izvezvi!” which directly translates to, “Someone will die today if you do not wake up right now!”
To Nyasha, this was a common Zimbabwean phrase. Dramatic, yes, but never meant to be taken literally. It was just another way of saying, “Get up right now!” However, Tanaka later confided in a friend, who, unfamiliar with the cultural context, interpreted it as a death threat. The friend told their parent, who, in turn, called children’s social services. Within days, Tanaka was temporarily removed from Nyasha’s care.