Online Reporter
Tendai Rupapa
Senior Reporter
THE elderly in Mberengwa, Midlands Province, summoned the remaining strength in their bodies to dance with delight in appreciation of First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, who remembered them ahead of the winter season by giving them blankets, winter clothes and food hampers.
Mostly of ill-health and left to take care of their orphaned grandchildren, the elderly counted themselves lucky and thanked the mother of the nation for her love.
Amai Mnangagwa also engaged the whole family set-up in a bid to find a lasting solution to what is tearing families apart.
The First Lady’s Angel of Hope Foundation mobilises resources from well-wishers for onward distribution to the needy and she hands over the goodies to the intended beneficiaries according to their needs.
Westernisation and the collapse of the extended family unit have largely left the elderly with no one to take care of their upkeep and health needs, hence the First Lady’s intervention.
In some communities, the elderly are accused of witchcraft and blamed for every misfortune that occurs, despite the open secret that it is a blessing to live long and those in the twilight of their lives need love and care.
Due to her non-selective approach and compassion, the First Lady traverses the country, providing the elderly with resources and enjoining the younger generation to tap into their wisdom for a brighter future.
As part of her programmes, Amai Mnangagwa regularly visits the elderly to clean their homes, do laundry, cut overgrown grass and help with the planting of crops to ensure food self-sufficiency and deal with situations crying out for a broom and touch of polish on the floors.
Some of the elderly spoke of falling sick and recovering on their own, with no one to provide them with medication to help heal.
The First Lady has defied the myths and misconceptions, leaping to the rescue of the elderly whom she has been providing with blankets for warmth, food to nourish their bodies and unlocking access to medical care.
Above all, she has sown the seeds of love across communities by rallying the citizenry to play a part in lightening the burden for those in the twilight of their lives by providing for their needs and keeping them company, threading unshakable love bonds across generations. Schoolchildren, too, were given stationery and reading books for use at school. In addition, girls were given sanitary pads to ease their plight amid reports that some missed school during their monthly cycles.
The mother of the nation also held an interactive session with the crowd where she tackled issues of drug abuse, child marriages, teenage pregnancies and the need to uphold peace in homes.
According to statistics, there is a surge in the number of child marriage cases in Mberengwa district and in light of that, Amai Mnangagwa sought to know what is contributing to the disturbing menace.
She also engaged the audience in an interactive session, inquiring about the reasons behind sour relations between in-laws. Adding colour to the event was Iyasa, which presented a captivating play highlighting the effects of drug and substance abuse. Amai Mnangagwa said: “I am happy to meet you here, this is not my first time coming to this province, I am always here with different programmes. What prompted me to come here today is the need to address some of the issues that usually affect families.
“However, nyaya hombe yandafambira is that of child marriages.
“New statistics show that Mberengwa is topping the list when it comes to child marriages,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa said some of the victims of child marriages end up having fistulas because they are not yet ripe for childbirth.
“Who is marrying off these children? However, some of you children are to blame. Some of you are eloping to your boyfriends at a very young age. You are engaging in sexual immorality at a very young age.
“Desist from such behaviour my children, it destroys your future. I urge you all, the community, the church, parents, guardians and teachers to give wise counsel to these children so that they are safe from child marriages.
“I also call upon you my children to take heed of the teachings that you receive from your elders. Children are abusing drugs, whose children are they? Whose home are they coming from and as a parent what are you saying about this? Are you counselling the child? Vana, you ought to listen to advice that you get from adults, even if they are not your parents,” she said.
“I want to know from you vana mbuya, how did you manage to grow old with your husbands? And you my children, where are you meeting your prospective partners? How long is courtship taking these days? Young women who recently got married, why did you get married uye mugere sei kwamakawanikwa?
In response Mrs Lorraine Chigiyo said she has so much respect for her in-laws.
“Ini ndakasiya zvese zvekumusha kwangu and adopted zvinodiwa mumusha mandakawanikwa. I believe in uniting the family not to cause disunity as a daughter-in-law. My mother taught me well and I keep all her teachings close to my heart,” she said.
A recently married woman admitted that they did not regularly travel to the rural areas to visit her in-laws.
“True, as daughters-in-law, we agree that we no longer visit rural areas with our children because some mothers-in-law are hard to please. They should show us genuine love so that we follow suit. In most cases, they would have wanted their son to marry a woman of their choice and if the son does not concur, hatred begins,” she said.
Daughters-in-law felt they are competing with their mothers-in-law for the time and attention of their husbands.
Amai Mnangagwa asked mothers-in-law to give their side of the story.
An elderly lady who spoke on behalf of mothers-in-law said most elderly people were treated as outcasts by their daughters-in-law, who accused them of witchcraft.
“Some daughters-in-law do not love us. They accuse us of witchcraft. Kuchena musoro is it a sign of witchcraft? They do not want their children to visit us. They also say we are competing with them for the attention of our sons. When our sons buy groceries, they find it hard to share with us asi vachiyendesa kumisha yavakabva. They are not fair,” she said.
Another elderly woman weighed in saying; “These children are now mischievous Amai. I have a daughter-in-law, but she is giving me hard times.
“When she came into the family, she eloped. I saw her sitting by the gate, holding a satchel, and I thought she was someone looking for a job as a house help. I was shocked when I was informed that she was my new daughter-in-law. I then accepted her.
“Amai, how can someone who elopes with a satchel, without her aunt become a good wife? She is not respectful, and she dresses anyhow, walking half-naked. If I try to reprimand her, all hell breaks loose.”
Sekuru Amos Gunduka said; “Amai, some women are destroying the lives of their children on their own. Some of these mothers are the ones marrying off their children at a young age. They are not abiding by our cultural values.
“Instead of taking their young daughters to their aunties for guidance, they are the ones who are assuming the role of aunties, but in the process, they are misleading their children. Some of the children end up getting married at the age of 13 owing to their mothers’ poor guidance. Child marriages are now rampant in this community because of such women who have no regard for tradition.”
Mothers-in-law aired their grievances pleading with the mother of the nation to address the issues and unite them with their daughters-in-law.
The mother of the nation took time to teach families on the correct path to follow thus living in peace and harmony.
Amai Mnangagwa always says that the elderly are a fountain of knowledge, encouraging the young people to tap into that wisdom.
“We want the elderly who are the fortresses of wisdom to tell us how they grew up, the rules they followed and the steps they took when getting married so that the young ones learn,” she said.
She urged the elderly who are the fortresses of wisdom to tell us how they grew up, the rules they followed and the steps they took when getting married so that the young ones learn,” she said.
She urged the elderly to form groups in their communities and take turns teaching the youths so that they grow up into morally upright citizens.
Midlands Province Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Cde Owen Ncube paid tribute to Amai Mnangagwa for traversing the length and breadth of the country, embarking on various projects in which she is leaving no one behind.
His sentiments dovetailed with those of the Minister of Energy and Power Development Honourable July Moyo who also attended the event.
Chief Ngungumbane and MP for Mberengwa Central Hon Tinashe Shumba said Amai’s intervention on child marriages was timely and thanked her for tackling child marriages head-on.
People were grateful to the First Lady for the donations and teachings.
Gogo Violet Nyamombe said she was grateful to have been remembered by the First Lady.
“I lost my husband nearly 20 years ago and have no one to take care of me since all my children and their families are living and working elsewhere.
“I am now too old to perform household chores and even fetch firewood and water. What the First Lady has done for me today is a sure sign that my God lives and he still remembers me,” she said in between sobs. An almost similar tale was shared by Gogo Cleopatra Farai who said she was living each day as it comes.
“The First Lady has today shown me real love, unconditional love. She has made time to come and spend time with us. Mudzinharaunda matigere tinenge tichingonzi tisu varoyi. Imhosva here kuchengetwa naMwari kusvika pazera ratiri.
“Amai gave us blankets, clothes and domestic provisions like cooking oil, sugar and maize-meal. I really want to thank her and wish her a long life of caring for people like me who have no one to turn to in times of both strife and happiness,” she said.
Schoolchildren were provided with stationery for use at school and sanitary pads for girls to provide them with reasonable comfort during their monthly cycles.
Tadiwa Masango, a learner in the area sang praises to the First Lady for her benevolence.
“I thank the First Lady for the love she has shown to us and for teaching us the correct path to follow in assisting our elders. She provided us with books for use at school and sanitary pads. She is indeed a mother to us all. Amai also regularly visits our community despite the long distances involved. To her distance is not a barrier,” she said.
