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Rosita Salvador, born in a tree during deadly floods, passes away
Rosita Salvador Mabuiango, known as Mozambique's "miracle baby" after her dramatic birth in a tree during the catastrophic 2000 floods, has died at the age of 25 following a prolonged illness, her sister confirmed to the BBC.
The 2000 disaster and a miraculous birth
In February 2000, southern Mozambique was devastated by its worst floods on record after the Limpopo River burst its banks. Hundreds of people died, and hundreds of thousands were displaced from their homes. Among them was Carolina Cecilia Chirindza, Rosita's mother, who fled rising waters with her two young children.
"It was a Sunday afternoon around four o'clock, and the water began rising," Chirindza later recounted to the Red Cross. "The water reached our house, and the current grew stronger. Like everyone else in the village, we climbed into the trees."
For four days, Chirindza and 14 others clung to the branches, praying for rescue. With no food and children crying, the group endured until Chirindza went into labor in the early hours of the fourth day. A South African military helicopter spotted them, and Rosita was born still attached to her mother by the umbilical cord, with her grandmother holding a capulana (sarong) beneath her to prevent her from falling into the floodwaters.
"I think my baby is different from other babies because she was born in a tree. It was God's will for her to live," Chirindza said later.
A symbol of resilience and unfulfilled promises
Rosita and her mother became global symbols of survival, traveling to the U.S. later that year to address Congress and raise awareness about the disaster. President Daniel Chapo described Rosita as an inspiration for Mozambican girls, offering condolences to the nation upon her death.
Rosita grew up in Chibuto, the rural area where she was born, and graduated from high school. She had a daughter five years ago but struggled to secure a scholarship to study petrochemical engineering, despite government promises to fund her education from primary school through university.
Health struggles and systemic failures
Rosita's sister, Celia Salvador, told the BBC that Rosita died on Monday after battling a long illness she could not name. Family sources revealed she had suffered from severe anemia for years, compounded by tuberculosis. She had been hospitalized for over two weeks before her death.
Political analyst Charles Mangwiro called her death a "wake-up call" for the government to improve healthcare services. "You cannot expect survival when health workers go unpaid for months and hospitals lack basic drugs and protective equipment," he said.
Despite recent efforts to recruit more medical staff, Mozambique's health system remains overstretched, with shortages of essential supplies and medications.
Funeral plans and legacy
Chibuto Mayor Henriques Machava said discussions with the family were underway to finalize funeral arrangements, which the municipality would oversee. Rosita's mother expressed her grief to local media, calling the loss "very bad news."
"She was a symbol for girls in Mozambique. My condolences to all Mozambicans, especially to our girls," President Chapo said.
