06-06-2025
Kinross resident publishes online memoir of her life journey
Francisca Zibia (22) recently released her online memoir Unbroken: Just Bent, which tells the story of her life – growing up with depression and anxiety, resorting to alcohol as a coping mechanism, and surviving a suicide attempt.
Her memoir is for all ages; however, her goal is to reach the younger generation, who may face similar experiences with young love, the pressure to fit into social groups, and challenges such as getting bullied at school.
'I grew up with anxiety and depression and used writing as my escape,' said Zibia.
She rebelled in her younger days and turned to alcohol. She also attempted suicide in 2021. When Zibia was 20, she became pregnant but suffered a miscarriage at eight months.
'It was at the time of losing my child that I knew I needed to change. I felt she did not deserve a parent like me. I had to change for when God blesses me with another child.'
Zibia encourages others to stand their ground and believe that change is possible when you dedicate yourself to it. When Zibia was a child, her father was involved in a vehicle accident. Although he survived, she said everything 'went downhill' from there, and her mother became the sole provider.
'We had to help my mother sell vegetables at her stand, and on top of that, still had responsibilities at home,' said Zibia.
She has five siblings, who all had to learn extra responsibilities at a young age.
Zibia felt she could never talk to her mother about being bullied at school because it would add to the predicament at home.
When she was 19, Zibia attempted suicide by taking pills.
She was rushed to a hospital, where doctors pumped out her stomach. A combination of issues triggered this suicide attempt.
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Zibia was cyberbullied and bullied at school for her appearance and financial struggles. Her family could not afford to replace her old, torn school uniforms or buy a school bag.
She would sometimes fall asleep at school, exhausted from helping her mother sell vegetables and handling responsibilities at home the previous day.
While in the hospital, Zibia met two women. One had diabetes and was in her 'last days', and the other suffered heart and lung damage from substance abuse.
'I felt guilty because here is a woman who injects herself daily to stay alive and who wants to live her life. The other woman is using drugs and fighting for survival. And here I am, wanting to end my life.'
When Zibia lost her child, the thought of suicide crossed her mind again, but it was at that point that she knew only she could take the steps to change her life.
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She would resort to alcohol as a coping mechanism, and it was at a cousin's wife's birthday celebration that she reached an epiphany.
'I looked around at the people in the club and realised this is not the life I want to live, nor the one I had envisioned.'
It was at that point that Zibia quit drinking alcohol.
'There is a way out. I did self-reflection and had to fix where I was wrong. I played my part and took responsibility for the things I went through. I had to find a positive way out of it.
'Maybe one person can relate to a page of my life. I hope my memoir can touch one person,' concluded Zibia.
You can read Zibia's memoir online on Amazon at
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