A 68-year-old woman identified as Tsotsoo, has opened up on her harrowing journey through life, marked by profound struggles, dashed dreams, and strong faith.

In an interview with JoyNews, she recounted how she once earned a living selling sachet water, a venture that brought her little relief.

“When I sold pure water, it never got finished. People also refused to pay me when I did menial jobs,” she lamented.

Her experiences were further marred by inappropriate advances from men, prompting her to stop selling water in Dome and relocate to Circle.

Even then, she faced challenges that led her to contemplate ending her life.

“I was tired of life, tired of living. Life was very difficult. I wanted to end it all", she recounted.

As a child, she dreamt of growing her mother’s business, but circumstances made it impossible.

Her painstaking efforts to save money for expanding her business were dashed when a fire engulfed the market, destroying her savings and livelihood.

“I worked hard and saved in my money box. I even skipped breakfast to save, but one morning, my neighbours informed me that there was a fire outbreak at the market. I was devastated. Who was I going to seek help from?", she added.

To survive, Tsotsoo ventured into menial jobs, such as running errands and washing clothes, but even those endeavours yielded little profit.

“Sometimes, I would wash for people and scrub, only to receive a small bowl of soup in return,” she recalled.

According to her, since 2016, she has been selling sachet water, but the challenges persist.

She also narrated how she endured physical hardships, including being stung by scorpions twice.

“The only remedy I had was to chew salt and onions because I couldn’t afford to seek medical attention. I prayed and had faith that I would heal,” she said.

Today, her support system is God, a radio set that keeps her connected to the world, and a small bag of painkillers.

On what she eats on regular basis, Tsotsoo resorts to basic meals like gari mixed with pepper or sometimes sugar.

“If I don’t tell you my struggles, you’d never know by looking at me. But I am hopeful that one day God will make a way for me, as he has done for others,” she stated.

JKB/EB

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