Biological diversity is remarkably complex and defies easy categorization. Within the rigid framework of binary gender norms, some individuals are born into circumstances where their biological composition surpasses traditional classifications of male or female. In many traditional contexts, this complexity is often viewed negatively, associated with curses or witchcraft. However, as our understanding of human biology progresses, it becomes increasingly apparent that these variations are not abnormalities but rather essential elements of the diverse spectrum of human existence.
Mphatso Sakala,35, is among those individuals who were born with sex characteristics that defy the typical definitions of male or female biological makeup. Raised in Lusaka, he is the eldest of seven siblings. Recollecting his upbringing, Mphatso fondly remembers how his parents treated all their children with absolute equality, devoid of any bias or preferential treatment based on gender or other factors. Growing up, he gradually became conscious of the disparities between himself and other children. It was during playtime that he began to discern these distinctions among his friends, despite being brought up as a female.
He recounts how, at birth, no definitive pronouncement of gender was made due to being intersex, leaving the decision largely to medical professionals. With ambiguous genitalia that couldn’t be clearly categorized, there was uncertainty about his gender identity from the start. Doctors advised his parents to take him home and observe his growth, but the conditions remained unclear. Curious about his own gender, he engaged his parents in discussion, discovering the thoughtful consideration that led them to raise him as female.
During an interview on Conversations with Dr. Dora on Diamond TV, Mphatso revealed that he hasn’t entirely dismissed the idea of surgery but remains hesitant and undecided. He explained that in his situation, the organs conventionally associated with a person’s sex can develop into either testicles or ovaries. He expressed feeling “stuck” due to having both ovaries and testicles, a scenario not typical for either males or females. Mphatso also shared that his identification with the male gender, which has persisted since childhood, remains unchanged.
Let’s dig in!
“When we talk about intersex, we are talking about a person who was born with sex characteristics which don’t fit the typical definition of how we understand someone being born male or being born female in terms of biological make up. When you look at intersex, it finds itself as a middle sex, and intersex people are born with a mix of secondary traits from both male and female. I was born in Lusaka and raised in Lusaka in 1986. I am the first born in a family of seven. My mum is a business woman, and my father does his own work; he is an economist. With my parents, what I noted is that we were treated equally as their children, and there wasn’t that distinction to say that you are a special child and we need to treat you this way. The same way others were treated is the same way I was treated. In terms of realizing that I was different, you will find that from a tender age when you start playing with your friends, there is a time of discovery as a child. As you grow, you start noticing that your friends are different from one another, especially that I was raised female so I was expected to play with girls,” he said.
He recounts how the doctors were unable to categorize him as either male or female at birth.
“In terms of pronouncement at birth, there was no pronouncement on my side. With intersex, doctors have an upper hand, so we mostly rely on what the doctors will say about it. In my case, nothing was actually said. My parents were told to take me home and observe me as I grow. My condition was unclear; I had ambiguous genitalia which could not be categorized either as male or female. So, I took interest to ask my parents, and with the conversation I had with my father, I realized there was a lot of wisdom that went into it in terms of decision of which gender they will raise me with. The gender that was chosen was female. When I asked them to say when I look at myself, I think I align more on the male side. Even with my growing up, it’s on the male side. I was different even in how I would carry myself. You know, with children, you will find that their toys, so there is expectation from society: if you’re a girl, you should be playing with dolls, which wasn’t there for me. In as much as our parents made sure that we do any chores, I wanted to do more of boys’ stuff,” said Mphatso.
Considering the societal context, Mphatso’s parents deemed it prudent to raise him as a girl due to the perceived notion that girls receive more protection from society than boys.
“I had questions for my parents about why I was raised female because when I look at myself, the way I carried myself was so evident that I aligned myself with the male gender. When I do an analysis of it, it makes a lot of sense. When you look at our society today, you’ll find that a girl child is more protected than a boy child. Today, if you see two children maybe two years of age, society will not tolerate a girl child to walk around without clothes, but they can tolerate a boy child. So, that was also what they looked at because they thought I would be more protected if I was raised as female,” he said.
Despite his upbringing with his condition, Mphatso opposes surgeries because they rely on uncertain assumptions, and he believes individuals should choose their own gender alignment.
“In terms of intersex people, it’s a natural variation, so you will find that some people, when we look at our culture and traditions in the past, they would think it’s a curse, bad omen, or as a result of witchcraft, a punishment for the sins the parents may have committed. But this is a naturally occurring variation in human beings. I have never had any operation. In the work that we do as intersex activists, we are advocating for no surgeries to be done because you will find that if surgeries are done, it’s based on the best guess, so they are not sure which gender this person will really align to. Truth be told, if we are talking about intersex issues, we are talking about the sex of a person, and everything else follows after the sex. You will find that if an intersex person is born in between male and female, there won’t be that clear-cut because we have all the binaries of male and female. So, you will find that there won’t be that clear-cut, and this is where we have got confusions with people because people don’t understand that there are people who are born with sex characteristics which are male or female,” Mphatso.
“What we have noticed in our work as an organization is that we find that surgeries are done, but follow-ups are not done in terms of making sure that this person is assured to align with the gender. It’s not like it’s a short process; it’s a long process which requires continuous management, and sometimes if a surgery is done, it means that that individual might have to be put on hormone therapy, and in most cases, that therapy does not come cheap. If we look at the essential drugs being procured by the Minister of Health, you will find that it’s not even there, and most of the people who come to us are people who can’t even afford it. What we’ve also done, I run an association called Intersex Organization of Zambia. I’ve done a legal and policy review in terms of how it’s like growing up in the Zambian environment. In summary, all I can say is that the laws of Zambia are blind to the existence of intersex people; we are not even recognized. So, even when we talk about policy, we are not included.”
He mentioned that even if he contemplated having surgery, it wouldn’t be feasible because he possesses both ovaries and testicles, a combination not typical of either male or female anatomy.
“In terms of surgery, for me, it’s not something I would not consider. In my case, you’ll find that when we talk about the sex garments, for example, they can either develop into testicles or ovaries. In my case, I’m stuck because I have both ovaries and testicles, which is not expected in a male or female person. In terms of feelings from my end, from the time I can recall as a child, I aligned with the male gender, but that has not changed. I am now over 35, and I’m still the same. In as much as I was raised female, I had to have my names changed, sex marker changed. In 2017, I had to go to the high court to have my name changed because my previous name was very feminine, and I also had to have my gender marker changed,” he said.
Dr. Dora later inquired about the process for him to change his name and gender marker. He mentioned that it wasn’t easy due to the majority of people being unfamiliar with his condition.
“The court process was not easy because we have talked about the laws being silent already. There is no provision or laid down procedures on how an intersex person can have their gender marker changed. So, getting someone to draft that document for me, I had to explain why I had to change my gender marker. I had to undergo tests and got documents that I took to the National Registration Office. When I changed to male, it was tough for my family. Even at the time when I was sharing with them that I was going to the high court to have my names changed, I could see that there was some level of discomfort and worry. But what I appreciate is them saying ‘we made a choice for you when you were young, but you are old enough to make choices,’” he said.
“The good part is that the name that I have is not the name that we had to look for; it was a name which was already given to me. But also, adjusting to it took time because they were used to the previous name. It was very difficult, and I said with time they would get used to it. The most difficult time in terms of the adjusting process was when I chose to have an interview with BBC. The problem was they didn’t tell me that the interview had been published, and when I saw it, people started questioning me about my decision. It was at that point I thought of my parents, and I explained to them about the interview so that they are not caught unaware.”
Mphatso explains that entering into a relationship was challenging because he didn’t know how someone would react upon discovering he is intersex.
“My social life is tough. It’s not an easy one because as much as we can talk about external genitalia, for doctors to have failed to determine whether this one is male or female, it means there was more to it. Socially, it’s very difficult because you don’t even know where to start from in terms of opening up to that person you may have fallen in love with. It’s not an easy conversation, and sometimes there is a lot that goes on in your mind, wondering if I open up, am I safe? Will this person run away from me? So, it’s a whole lot, and the thinking process is what weighs people down a lot because you can get depressed and anxious. But when you get past that and find someone who will accept you for who you are, you have another step, which is the family and what they will say. I am currently in a relationship, and I am in a place where I feel comfortable, and I have been welcomed by the family. I am in a relationship where I have managed to see acceptance from both my partner and the family, but it’s not easy,” he said.
He states that it’s feasible for an intersex individual to marry someone and experience married life similarly to any other physically capable person.
“With the way I was growing up, it was not easy for someone to come to my face and call me names. I never tolerated nonsense, but I learned from colleagues at school that they thought I was a lesbian. I was at an all-girls school at Kabulonga Girls. The most asked question was whether an intersex person can get married. The answer is yes and no. Just like male and female persons, some can and some cannot; it’s the same for intersex people. They can actually get married, but issues of whether they can have children receive the same response. The Intersex Society of Zambia exists to facilitate the recognition and protection of the rights of intersex persons in Zambia,” he said.
He further questioned the Christian values embraced in Zambia, noting that the laws of the land seem to neglect the needs of intersex communities.
“If you see that the laws are silent, it’s very difficult to have policies which take into account the needs of this community. If the laws are silent and will continue to have intersex people suffering in silence, in as much as Zambia is a Christian nation, I question the Christianity that exists. When it comes to the church, I stayed away from the church, but there came a time when I started hearing mothers accusing me of all sorts of things. Me being raised female, my attraction was towards females, and it raised all sorts of questions. So, I stayed away from the church for more than 10 to 15 years because I didn’t feel it was a space for me,” said Mphatso.