FATHER of the now separated Siamese twins, who recently made headlines, Moses Mwape, said he is still waiting for the help Government promised them. And the couple says they would like to be re-united with the girls, but they have no decent house to live with them.
Mapalo and Bupe, now about one-year-two-months old, are currently being kept at an orphanage in Kawambwa, 63kms from their parents’ home in Chabatama Chisembe village.

He said the family is willing to shift to Kawambwa, which has better medical facilities, provided Government builds them a house there.
He said he gave Government a list of the things he needs, but no help has come through yet. Mr Mwape said all he asked from Government is roofing sheets to roof the house he is trying to build, a bicycle, bags of fertiliser and a radio. He said his family is currently suffering, as the money they had received through donations has run out.

And the twins’ mother, Lydia, is expecting her sixth child. Lydia Mwape revealed that she is six months pregnant.
The young mother said she decided to fall pregnant because according to custom, she must give birth to a Chola [a child born after a set of twins].
The older of the twins, Bupe, is yet to start sitting on her own, but her caregivers said she is making good progress.

A few months ago, when one of the girls fell ill, doctors had strongly recommended that the children be re-united with their parents, but social welfare experts objected to the idea, saying the parents’ home is not conducive for the girls. There is currently a court case to determine whether or not the children can be re-united with their parents. Mapalo and Bupe instantly became darlings of the public when they were born, and were the first conjoined twins to be successfully separated locally.