adminA SURGE in cases involving family feuds, which spill into the courts for settlement, is quite shocking and embarrassing.
Respect, love and honour seem to be lacking among close relatives who should be living in peace and harmony.
Ubuntu, which used to define us as Africans, seems to have become a thing of the past since it’s no longer being observed.
Some disputes can be easily avoided, or solved at family level, should warring parties remain humble. Other family feuds are ridiculous and shocking, as people now lack respect for the elders.
The Holy Bible, is clear when it comes to the need to honour our parents so that our days on earth can be multiplied by the Lord.
On a daily basis, we carry stories of feuding family members who have resorted to the civil courts for legal recourse.
In last Friday’s issue, we ran a story involving a Harare woman, who dragged her daughter to court, accusing her of disturbing her peace.
She accused her of physical and verbal abuse. The woman further claimed that her daughter was rude, cruel and violent.
Magistrate Tamara Chibindi granted the protection order in the woman’s favour, much to the dismay of the daughter.
This case should have been resolved at family level had the daughter respected her mother.
Raising your hand to beat up the person, who raised you, is both a taboo and wicked.
Parents deserve all the love and respect for raising us to be where we are today.
The sacrifice they made in carrying us for the nine months should never be taken lightly.
The pain mothers go through in raising us is really hard.
In a related matter, we also carried another issue involving a granny who is living in fear of her abusive grandson.
The elderly woman claimed that her grandson has been threatening to kill her.
She further claimed that the grandson was in the habit of insulting her with obscenities, which she cannot take anymore.
The woman has also become a laughing stock in her neighbourhood as a result of the grandson’s wild conduct.
This level is disrespect has become a common phenomenon among young people. They usually abuse their elders under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
This trend by young people, who lack respect for their elders, needs to be addressed.
As Zimbabweans, we are known to be a people who have respect for the elders.
And, cases of young people lacking respect to the elders, are growing and it’s not right. We can’t continue raising a generation of people who don’t respect their elders.
Respect should be taught at family level where kids should be taught to separate the good from the bad.
As parents, we should always whip our kids into line when they start developing signs of disrespect.
Parents and elders deserve respect, love and care.
Online Reporter