Teach children how to dress: Chief

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
SCHOOL teachers have been challenged to instill cultural discipline among pupils as it will ensue that the country remains a nation with an identity. Speaking during the launch of the belated Masvingo culture week celebrations at Mucheke Stadium on Wednesday, chief Chikwanda from the Masvingo province called on teachers to ensure that culture was disseminated saying children should be taught how to dress and conduct themselves in front of elders.

Chief Chikwanda said young people should not wear revealing clothes because it was alien.
“While I applaud the work done by teachers in schools to inculcate that feeling of belonging and preservation of our culture, I challenge them to go beyond that. You should teach “real” culture without diluting African culture with Western culture.

“Our children should desist from putting on revealing clothes, especially girls. School children should feel proud of their culture…they should not feel ashamed,” he said.

“In Britain, they have their own culture and are proud of it. They have never copied ours but we are copying theirs.”
Chief Chikwanda also called on authorities to respect culture by distributing condoms away from the eyes of children.

“We know the purpose of condoms, but the way they are distributed violates our cultural values and norms. I am not even against their use because I know they help in reducing HIV and Aids, but they must not be seen everywhere…in toilets and offices. That is wrong,” he said.

Chief Chikwanda hailed teachers for reminding students about the country’s cultural values and norms through drama and arts activities.

Culture week is celebrated in different provinces every year and is meant to celebrate culture. The main objectives of the Culture Week are to provide an opportunity for the people of Zimbabwe to appreciate the diversity of the arts and cultures of the world as well to bring about national, regional and international social integration through arts and culture.

Masvingo province’s culture week celebrations, which were meant to be held last month, were postponed to this month due to lack of resources. The national launch was successfully held in Bulawayo last month.