Online Reporter
Fadzayi Maposah
Correspondent
In this month of the goat, Mbudzi, (GOAT-the greatest of all time), I wish to salute men who are doing what they can regarding their health.
Some men have not been celebrated, but are doing more than their best, not just for themselves, but for the ones that they love, their families, and society as a whole.
Let me just start by celebrating men for just being men. Rarely do we support them for who they are. We do not even have many days that support and celebrate men. Back in 2004, there was a song by Afrika Revenge called “Wanga” that derided a man who did not have anything.
The things that were referred to were money, a car, a house, and a phone. The strange thing about this song is that it was a hit and had many people dancing away.
It is only when you listen to it that you realise that the lyrics have a deep meaning.
So, suppose that after listening to such a song, you meet a man who does not have a car, tick the “Wanga” box.
If he does not own a house, tick again. The man is broke, another tick, but he may have a phone. Then there are questions regarding the type of phone. The many ticks simply mean that he can be classified as a nobody. How does one become a nobody just because of material possessions? Crazy question . . .
I think for long, men have had their self-esteem dented by so many comments and sometimes even jokes that degrade them. It cannot be easy for men, given that they are expected to have some things just because they are men. That, on its own, just puts pressure on them such that they have to go an extra mile to ensure that they get the necessary upgrade. I have heard people ask when a woman wants to get married, if the suitor can take care of them. By taking care of them, they simply mean that the person can provide for their needs. The pressure that the man has at times can be a brick wall that he cannot get over.
I discussed with a few men this week. All I can say from the discussion is that they are carrying a burden, and it is not easy.
One man said that it was very unfortunate that the very people who are supposed to be supporting them do not seem to be on their side, but are willing to throw them to the wolves.
He said that being with his parents at times was like being in a frying pan, as they literally roasted him for not working hard to provide for his family.
He said that he had realised that his parents were not part of the support system that he could count on. In fact, it appeared that they were on his wife’s side. He said the mistake he had made was to ask them for financial support. Now he constantly gets reminders of how he should work hard so that he does not borrow again. The reminders of the moments when he had challenges are not good, but his parents think that the nagging can spur him to higher levels. Unfortunately, it has discouraged him and has made him less of the man that he used to be. He says that he is doing his best, but the odds are against him.
Another man said that being asked why he has not done certain things or made certain achievements in life tends to hurt him. Some appear to have a chart to tick and highlight the progress made.
Sadly, the yardstick they use is not fair, because the only ones who know the parameters are the ones who are using the yardstick. As the sole users of the yardstick, they know when, how, and what to measure.
Some men (and even women) have no idea what they should do to be commended for the best that they are doing.
All they get from people around them are the glaring failures that scream endlessly and refuse to be silenced. What the failures do is stress the men and lead them to be anxious.
Anxiety, fear, and uneasiness make one weak and result in the individual feeling nervous.
Anxious individuals have difficulty concentrating, and they may also experience nausea and even have stomach problems. Another sign of anxiety is insomnia, resulting in poor sleep.
Insomnia is diagnosed when it happens at least three times a week for than three months and affects the usual daily routine. While some people are fast asleep, dreaming and snoring away, others are wide awake, having attempted to count sheep, but the number keeps rising, and still, they get no sleep.
It is important to take care of the males in our lives, as they have different roles that bring responsibilities and pressures that affect their health. Let us cheer on the males to have good health, acknowledging that some are doing their best, but the odds may be stacked against them.
Achievement takes place for different people at different times. Day 312 out of 365 of 2025. #Men’s Health
