Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
THE people of Manicaland have been urged to uphold and embrace their culture, language, and traditional values in the spirit of national development and unity, as the nation strives to attain an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza made the call during the Mutasa District Cultural Month commemorations held at Chief Mutasa’s homestead last Saturday.
The colourful event brought together elders, traditional leaders, Government officials, and villagers to celebrate and reflect on the importance of cultural preservation.
Minister Mugadza said Manicaland should take pride in its culture and ensure that it is passed on to younger generations.
He said culture and tradition are, not only the people’s identity, but also a key component of the development matrix.
“For us to achieve our goal by 2030, the vision that the President has for us to become an upper-middle-income economy, we must not leave behind our culture. We should be healthy, eating nutritious traditional food, as well as following our culture and traditions because that is our foundation. We should be proud of who we are as people from Manicaland, and pass on those values and traditions to our children, otherwise they will die a silent death,” he said, adding that culture is important, just as a people’s language is.
“Culture is the backbone of who we are, and just as important are our languages here in Manicaland. We should embrace Ubuntu and never be ashamed of speaking our mother tongues. Our vernaculars carry wisdom, values, and identity. If we lose them, we lose ourselves and everything our ancestors stood for,” said Minister Mugadza.
He thanked the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, for spearheading different programmes that are reviving culture, customs, and traditions across the country.
“She was recently here in Mutasa, and we are happy because this is helping our children and young ones to realise their identity and cultural responsibilities,” he said.
Minister Mugadza also commended President Mnangagwa for infrastructure and economic developments across the country, adding that cultural renaissance being promoted by the First Lady compliments the Government efforts towards community empowerment and nation-building.
In a bid to bridge the generational gap in knowledge and values, the commemorations also incorporated the Nhanga/Gota/Ixhiba sessions, a cultural mentorship initiative championed by the First Lady.
During the sessions, elders engaged with young girls and boys, offering them guidance on morality, identity, respect, hygiene, and responsibilities within the traditional African family set-up.
Elderly women taught girls how to behave as dignified daughters of the land, stressing the importance of cleanliness, modesty, cooking traditional dishes, and the importance of virginity before marriage.
Elderly men, on the other hand, taught the boys values of hard work, bravery, respect for elders, protection of women, and staying away from criminality.
Chief Mutasa also implored his people to hold tightly to their customs and traditions, and bemoaned the gradual erosion of traditional values, particularly among the youth, warning that abandoning culture would spell doom for future generations.
“Our young women must learn to respect themselves and abstain from premarital sex. Let us not throw away our dignity in the name of modernisation. I also urge our young men to desist from taking drugs and dangerous substances.
‘‘These things are destroying our communities. Alcohol abuse is tearing families apart. We need our boys to grow up strong, focused, and disciplined,” said Chief Mutasa.
He also expressed concern over the disregard of sacred sites and spiritual spaces in his area.
“There are sacred places in our community that must not be desecrated. I am warning all those who are going to these places without reverence to stop. Let us respect our shrines, our mountains, our rivers, and our forests. These are not just ordinary spaces; they hold spiritual and historical significance,” he warned.
The day also featured traditional dance performances, storytelling, and ululations as the Mutasa people pledged to safeguard their cultural identity and ensure that future generations would have the same roots to stand on.
