Online Reporter
Blessings Chidakwa
FIRST LADY Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa brought her impactful and engaging Gota/Nhanga/Ixhiba life skills session to the capital, captivating thousands of learners, parents, elders and community members for a moral and traditional reawakening.
Vibrant cultural exchange, heartfelt confessions and soul-stirring lessons dominated as the Culture and Heritage Ambassador equipped learners with moral values, life skills and cultural grounding to confront today’s social challenges.
Indeed, Harare was turned into a hive of moral introspection and traditional resurgence at Chembira Primary School in Glen Norah, where 29 schools from across the city gathered to interact with the First Lady.
Boys donned the roles of their forefathers, learning to handle knives, prepare hides (matehwe) and slaughter livestock with both care and reverence. They then slaughtered goats and chickens, which were prepared for cooking by the girls.
Girls in turn demonstrated their culinary prowess by preparing several traditional dishes, including sadza remhunga and zviyo, madhumbe, madora, mbambaira, zvinyenze, road runner chicken, nyama yembudzi, matemba, mupunga, mutakura and mufushwa une dovi.
They also exhibited their skills in pounding traditional grains.
Boys carry goat meat while an elderly man explains to them why portions of the meat are categorised to suit cultural norms and values during the Gota/Nhanga/Ixhiba Programme at Chembira Primary School in Harare.
They were joined by Dr Mnangagwa and Gogo Idah Mashonganyika, who demonstrated how they used to do it in their youth.
Afterwards, the mother of the nation, who continues to champion the restoration of cultural norms and the promotion of discipline, took time to engage learners separately before later bringing them together for a joint discussion.
The First Lady took girls for a closed-door Nhanga session, accompanied by elderly women and female teachers, while boys gathered in the Gota under the guidance of male educators and community elders, including Chief Chinamora.
The sessions were punctuated by candid discussions on peer pressure, drug and substance abuse, taboo same-sex relationships, bullying, teenage pregnancies, the dangers of social media, teenage relationships, mental health and the creeping erosion of cultural values.
In the Nhanga session, the First Lady asked girls how they respond to boys who make amorous advances.
Girls interact as they prepare traditional dishes during the Gota/Nhanga/Ixhiba Programme organised by First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa at Chembira Primary School in Glen Norah, Harare.
A Grade Seven learner from Chipembere Primary School, Tanatswa Nzombe, left the room in stitches with her witty response.
“Madzibaba, mundikwanire. Ini handiiti zvevakomana. Siyana neni, handikudi (Madzibaba, please spare me. I don’t get involved with boys. Leave me alone, I am not interested),” she said.
In the Gota session, Chief Chinamora raised the issue of sodomy, with a learner (name withheld) admitting that they had encountered such incidents in their neighbourhood in Glen View.
“Some of the problems we are facing include homosexuality. Some of us no longer feel comfortable because someone will be pestering us for a homosexual relationship.
“There is a man in my neighbourhood who used to lure us to his home. He would call us in groups, then send others to the shopping centre so that he could take advantage of one of us,” he said.
Chief Chinamora also asked the boys if they were aware of the proper channels for reporting various forms of abuse, whether at home or school, including the use of suggestion boxes.
Boys slaughter a goat while being taught how to cut it into various pieces recognised in Zimbabwean culture and tradition during the Gota/Nhanga/Ixhiba Programme at Chembira Primary School in Harare.
Tavonga Banhu, a Chembira Primary School learner, said, while they are aware of these procedures, they are sometimes afraid to speak out for fear of being labelled.
While addressing both boys and girls in a combined session, Dr Mnangagwa said the role of parents, schools and the wider community is to build strong foundations for children.
“I focused today on children from Grades Four to Seven because this is the stage of early teenage years, where bad influences creep in and discipline begins to weaken. Let us raise children who are morally upright; children who know who they are, who remain focused in school, from primary through to secondary and university, knowing their career goals,” she said.
The First Lady said girls should grow into respectable women, while boys become men of integrity, both respecting each other, not merely flirting or leading one another astray.
“Some girls today walk with their chests out not out of confidence, but to attract attention. Let us walk upright not to provoke, but to carry ourselves with dignity. To the boys, respect girls. To the girls, respect boys. Don’t exploit each other. If you are walking with someone, walk in dignity. Let people admire your manners, not your skin,” she said.
Culture and Heritage Ambassador First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa interacts with girls who prepared dried mopani worms (madora) in a claypot and roasted groundnuts to see if they know the nutritional benefits of the dishes during the Nhanga/Gota/Ixhiba Programme she organised in Harare.
Dr Mnangagwa also warned learners about the dangers of social media, particularly viewing pornographic content, which she said could easily lead them astray.
She said mobile phones should be put to good use, rather than spending the entire day texting love messages.
“Girls don’t throw yourselves to men; boys respect your bodies. Be proud and protect your dignity. We want you to grow up well. Focus on school. Avoid distractions. Whether you are a boy or a girl, don’t rush into relationships; focus on your future,” she urged.
She also condemned the scourge of drug and substance abuse, now a major concern in society, saying it was the driving force behind the opening of the Angel of Hope Foundation Rehabilitation Centre in Mbare.
“We have now reached a point where even young children are abusing drugs. Some in ECD (early childhood development) are already being exposed. This is a war we must all fight — parents, teachers, churches, everyone,” she said.
“Drugs are destroying our children. Let us not protect them blindly; let us help them. Knowing who our child associates with and monitoring their behaviour is essential. Teachers and authorities can only do so much; the home must also play its part.”
The Culture and Heritage Ambassador challenged learners to take part in household chores instead of leaving everything to their parents or domestic workers.
Chief Chinamora, Minister of State and Devolution for Harare Charles Tavengwa and other elderly men teach boys Zimbabwean traditional values, culture and norms during a separate session of the Gota/Nhanga/Ixhiba Programme at Chembira Primary School in Glen Norah, Harare.
“When you are at home, help out. Girls, don’t sit while your mother does everything. Boys, don’t be idle — clean, sweep, cook; learn responsibility,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa also encouraged the elderly to spend time with children in their communities, providing social guidance, alongside institutions such as the Church.
“Some children no longer go to church. They wander aimlessly. Going to church isn’t just about sitting in a building; it’s about building character,” she said.
The First Lady placed strong emphasis on the importance of good character among children.
“But how can you succeed without character? Even if you are educated, without morals, you will be easily swayed. You must be grounded. When the wind blows, don’t be taken by it; stand firm. This is my message to you, my children — have good character. As you go through life, know there will be temptations, especially from Satan. He will try to confuse and mislead you. But resist him. You are good children,” she said.
Girls prepare chicken to cook traditional dishes during the Gota/ Nhanga/Ixhiba Programme at Chembira Primary School in Glen Norah, Harare.
Dr Mnangagwa said morality knows no boundaries and strongly condemned homosexuality, asserting that it has no place in Zimbabwean culture.
“Even if you live in the city, remember you are Zimbabwean. You are not foreign. We have a culture that unites us. Culture isn’t just about being in rural areas; it’s about character, respect and tradition.
“We are raising children who are proud of where they come from, not embarrassed. When you walk with confidence, knowing who you are, people will respect you,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa also urged parents to spend quality time with their children, as all moulding begins in the home, before teachers and the broader society step in.
First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa interacts with girls clad in traditional dance apparel during the Nhanga/Gota/Ixhiba Programme at Chembira Primary School in Harare.
To support learners, the First Lady donated sanitary pads to girls and stationery to all learners, ensuring they are well equipped for their academic journey.
The message did not fall on deaf ears, as learners hailed the First Lady for her noble cause.
Kudakwashe Marange, a boy from Southerton Primary School, said he learnt the importance of abstaining from drugs.
“I applaud our First Lady for bringing this programme to us. I learnt that I should never get involved in drugs, as they destroy one’s future. I was also taught to avoid bullying others at school. Another important lesson was to have good morals, including respect for elders,” he said.
Michelle Mutevere, a learner from Chipembere Primary School, also thanked the First Lady for the programme.
Culture and Heritage Ambassador First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa and elderly women teach girls traditional values, culture and norms during a separate session of the Gota/Nhanga/Ixhiba Programme in Harare. – Pictures: John Manzongo.
“I was taught life skills such as preparing traditional dishes like madora ane dovi, and how to carry myself with dignity as a young girl,” she said.
Minister of State for Harare Provincial Affairs and Devolution Charles Tawengwa thanked the First Lady for consistently championing programmes that promote culture and tradition, including the Zviperengo Cultural Quiz competition.
Minister Tawengwa said the First Lady’s efforts in educating children are helping to ease the burden on education stakeholders.
The event left a lasting impression on both learners and community members, who expressed their gratitude for the First Lady’s ongoing commitment to nurturing a morally upright and well-grounded generation.
