adminA surge in cases of feuds involving close relatives continues to make a sad reading.
Most of these disputes are now being settled at the country’s busiest civil courts.
Civil court magistrates have now assumed new roles of counsellors, traditionally performed by aunts and uncles.
Surely, we can’t continue to abuse our learned magistrates to settle family disputes, which can easily be resolved at family level.
Most of them emanate from nasty fallouts over inheritance, gender-based violence, infidelity, greed, poverty, drug and substance abuse.
Such cases are prevalent in urban areas.
It’s now clear that we have failed to settle our disputes at family level.
Some of cases can be easily resolved at household level if people learn to embrace proven principles such as respect for each other, humility and self control.
Last week, we ran a number of stories where some individuals disowned close relatives in court.
Most of them told the Harare Civil Court that they were living in fear of their abusive close relatives.
Some claimed they were victims of domestic violence at the hands of people who should protect them.
Others applied for eviction orders against close relatives.
Most verdicts went in favour of applicants as the other party failed to attend court.
By failing to attend court, it exposed the ignorance, arrogance and stupidity of some defendants.
Lack of remorse is also worrisome as the feuding parties will never find each other.
In one of our editions we ran last week, a granny was jubilant after a protection order against her nephew was granted.
She said she had not known peace in recent weeks.
The nephew had the guts to call her a witch.
As strange as it may sound, it’s strange how our kids are now tormenting their elders.
Where are the morals which used to define us as a nation?
Where is the genuine love, which used to bind us together?
Where has the respect that used to unite us gone?
Well, these are some of the questions we are still asking each other.
As the nation, it’s never too late to repent.
Zimbabweans are known for upholding Ubuntu the world over, and this used to make us distinct.
While the blame can only be attributed to people copying foreign cultures, a lot still needs to be done to uphold Ubuntu.
As Zimbabweans, we should always learn to differentiate between the good and bad.
We should always learn to respect our elders.
We should be grateful to our guardians/parents who sacrifice a lot in raising us.
Parents go through a lot in their quest to raise us and it’s never a stroll in the park. Their prayers, tears and genuine love should never be underestimated.
During the festive season, we need to show them some love.
Instead of giving them headaches and heartaches, let’s show them true love.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter