Online Reporter
Fadzayi Maposah-Correspondent
The way we behave is shaped by many things. One of the reasons why we behave the way that we do is because of the time that we grew up in.
There are so many things that I do now that are a result of what I was exposed to growing up.
I always tell young people that so many things that are readily available now were rare back in the day. I have learnt that things change all the time and looking back there are some things that seemed so obvious that are no longer obvious.
On Tuesday, I had a discussion with some people as we travelled to work.
The issue started as we bemoaned how one of our colleagues just would not get off his mobile phone.
He was on his phone asking how relatives were, how they had slept. He was on the phone asking people to make follow ups on issues he had assigned them.
He was calling to give fresh instructions to team members who needed to get things done.
The phone moved swiftly from his hand to the ear.
Occasionally, he would put the callers on speaker and everyone in the vehicle could hear the whole conversation.
It was a busy morning. Just listening to the conversations that were not meant for us was to start a conversation that would take us more than 50km.
We started a journey down memory lane.
Everyone in the vehicle was above 40 years and some of the experiences are closely related. I shared how when we were in college, we would walk from the hostel to a public telephone booth and make calls using coins.
My friends and I even took time to take note of the public telephone booth number so that at given times we would wait for calls from home.
It was an experience to hear the phone ring and then hear a very familiar voice on the other end.
Then the conversations would warm the heart as we remembered home and the familiar settings in which the family was in. It came with some nostalgia.
Then it was sharing that when there were two extensions in the home, one would attempt to eavesdrop on conversations.
My brothers are guilty as charged in this regard.
The colleagues in the car also shared that on landline party lines, it was interesting to learn that it was possible to hear whole conversations and then have someone from the telephone company interrupt and ask some people to put down their receivers and allow others to continue with their conversations.
We concluded that the telephone operators had a bag full of conversations that they overhead.
Landlines were not in every household. Some homes did not have landlines yet neighbours were able to open their homes to allow those without landlines to receive calls.
The neighbour with the landline who would take calls and pass on messages to the people who were sought as to what time they could come and wait for the call.
I remember that at times some neighbours would prefer to wait outside.
They did not want to be in the way.
Then the call would come.
Now take note that these landlines were mainly in the living room or in the passage from which the conversations could be heard, at least from one side.
Having a landline in the area allowed neighbours to stay in touch with their relatives and messages could be relayed swiftly from different places.
Now most people have their own mobile phones and the use of landlines in homes is down.
Coming from an era where landlines were communal, taught us that having something was for the people around to also benefit.
While young people may not relate to having landlines at home, where neighbours would wait for their calls, there are lessons that they should learn that being there for one another is very important.
March is Women’s Month.
The theme for this year is, “Rights, Justice and Action for all Women and Girls”.
Do all women and girls know this theme and how it can be applied to be relevant in their lives?
Do they even know how that theme resonates to critical parts of their lives?
Everyday things are changing and if one is not careful one can remain stuck in the landline days, while others are moving with their mobile phones and staying up to date with information, while as a passenger, they are communicating and getting things done.
The majority of women and girls in Zimbabwe stay in the rural areas and it is important that they are not disadvantaged because of where they live.
While the urban areas may be attractive, there are many innovations that are taking place in the rural areas.
In rural areas, life is more communal than in the urban areas where everyone seems to be in a hurry and disengaged from the neighbours.
I was happy to observe this week some young mothers who have understood that there is need to do something for themselves and leave what they cannot do for themselves to others.
These young women have understood that all rights come with responsibilities.
To access information on health and social issues, they are making use of radios.
They also use their mobile phones to take part in discussions that are conducted in the media.
They save money and procure their radios and within the confines of their homes they have information.
They impressed me by the fact that all health campaigns that have been conducted in the country they were up to date.
They are not waiting for a community radio to be donated. Just like my colleague travelling and getting things done, they are doing their chores, listening to the radio and also benefiting from the information.
There is nothing wrong with sharing with those who are yet to get the information so that they benefit.
There are lessons everywhere.
This March, we celebrate women and girls and allow them to fully apply the theme so that no one and no place is left behind.
No one will wait outside to receive a call and worry that when the call comes, privacy will be invaded. Happy International Women’s Day.
