STRUGGLES during her early stages as a girl child did not deter proportional representation legislator Joyce Jaja (MDC Alliance) from fulfilling her dream of becoming one of the country’s lawmakers. Jaja opened up to NewsDay on her struggles as she grew up in a polygamous family in the rural areas where one had to work in order to live and pay own school fees. She says by opening up on her life experiences, it should encourage other Zimbabwean girls who are struggling that despite one’s disadvantaged background, it is possible to work hard and achieve leadership positions. The following are excerpts of an interview between NewsDay (ND) senior parliamentary reporter Veneranda Langa and Jaja (JJ) on different issues regarding her role as PR legislator. ND: Who is Joyce Jaja? JJ: I was born in the Kondo area of Chipinge in 1973 and I grew up in a polygamous family, where my father had 12 wives. My mother was the eldest wife, but she passed away when I was still a toddler doing Grade 1. As a girl child, I suffered a lot and survived on the benevolence of well-wishers who assisted me to attain an education. It was difficult growing up in a large family like that. To attain primary school education, the then headmaster of Kondo Primary School, the late Charles Mayahle and his wife Miriam, paid school fees for me up to Grade Seven. After that, my brother Samuel Matsviyo then brought me to Harare, where I was to later complete high school. It was difficult because he did not own a house and was a lodger, but he paid for my secondary school education up to Form 4 level at Warren Park High School. Since my brother was a lodger, I used to sleep at Amai Tinashe Kadye’s house, a neighbour who took care of me even though we were not relatives. ND: It seems you had a very difficult life as a young girl, but what did these experiences teach you? JJ: My difficult childhood experiences assisted me to be able to become a responsible and more organised person. This later assisted me in my political career. I had to fend for myself at primary school by working at people’s fields for a fee (maricho) in order to survive in the difficult circumstances. Since my father was a polygamist, he was unable to adequately cater for all of us. Soon after completing my “O” Level studies, I did several courses that included security training, and typing courses. I then got a job as a saleslady at Nyore Nyore Zimbabwe Furniture. That was in 1994. I got married in 1995. Despite my earlier suffering, I did not lose confidence and I decided to join politics in 1999. It cost me my job, but this did not deter me from my ambition to become a female legislator. ND: What really triggered you to join politics? JJ: The country’s economy was deteriorating and people were suffering due to unemployment and inflation. I then decided to join the Movement for Democratic Change then led by Morgan Tsvangirai. This was a very bold decision for me as it taught me to be a strong, fearless and outspoken person. Since I was a hard worker, I became interim chairlady of Harare