adminGIVING a helping hand to the bereaved, heart-broken and the downtrodden, defines Ubuntu.
This has been the norm in most African societies.
Usually, no returns are expected when rendering this kind of love and hope.
Expecting returns, by helping these victims, is considered a taboo.
These victims only need hope, and assurance, as they navigate the terrain when misfortune hits them.
By giving hope to those in despair, we are simply sowing seeds of love.
However, it becomes a problem when some of the Good Samaritans end up taking advantage of the vulnerable.
The rogue Good Samaritans who come as sheep in wolves’ clothing.
They end up preying on their beneficiaries by sexually, physically and emotionally abusing them.
This leads to endless fights where the real intention of the benefactors come under scrutiny.
As such, genuine help should never come with conditions.
In yesterday’s issue, we ran a touching story of a city man, who had his dreadlocks pulled off in the dead of the night, following a domestic dispute with his new wife.
The woman came into the man’s life as a widow who needed help.
Initially, the man had offered to help the widow by giving her somewhere to stay.
Later on, he took advantage of the vulnerable woman and proposed love to her.
The relationship turned sour after his intentions became clear.
Regular fights became their lifestyle, according to court papers.
We don’t condone gender-based violence and genuine help should never come with conditions as was the case with this man.
With the court ruling that the man cannot chase away his wife, who came into his life as a desperate widow, lessons should be learnt.
And, one such big lesson of the week that we have learnt, is that not all Good Samaritans can be trusted.
There are many victims in this predicament who are desperate to escape from such people.
Sugar daddies who are preying on desperate young women instantly come to mind.
This new trend is on the increase since desperation will always prompt victims, and targets, to accept everything presented to them.
In most cases, victims only realise that their benefactors had evil intentions, once they have been abused.
Some live with this abuse for years while the brave ones find a way to either walk away or tell their story.
Those in despair need to be careful when they meet people who offer them help.
A simple background check can help us weed out these bad apples.
In times of desperation, victims should never lose hope and sacrifice their souls to rogue elements.
Prayer, faith and accepting new challenges can easily help out victims, who have on many occasions fallen prey to abusive benefactors.
As we mentioned earlier, genuine help should never come with conditions.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter