adminThe Rhodesia Herald, 1 July 1977
A GROUP of mothers in the Masembura and Musana Tribal Trust Lands, near Bindura, have been weeding fields and doing other manual work to give their children a good start in life.
These women are attending a course at Domboshawa Training College this week, learning to improve the play groups they have established.
Their aim is to provide a play environment in which their children can learn before they go to school.
Five play groups were established last year, involving 32 mothers. Some 1 500 children were educated in these groups and are now at school. Now there are 14 play groups in the two TTLs.
The initial week of training was done in the tribal trust lands three years ago. It took the form of a promotion and interest course for mothers.
After the week’s briefing, interest ran high and the entire community was in favour of starting a play group. Teachers and ministers were enthusiastic and offered church and school buildings and facilities.
The council also supported the idea and the local chief actually addressed the initial course.
A parents’ committee was formed and five play centres were soon established. But things were not that easy. Toilets were needed for the children in spite of the fact that accommodation had been offered.
Undaunted, the mothers dug pit latrines on their own. Then there was the financial question. Again, their determination saw them over this hurdle. They went to the council and asked for work.
After months of weeding and hard physical labour, they had raised $46 and could now get their playground centre underway.
Since then, women all over the country have been following the example of these. More than 50 courses have been given, many of them in parts of the country where the people are now in protected villages.
An added problem is found in these areas and the need for playgroups is even more urgent.
Mothers have to go out to till their fields and cannot take their children with them as no food is allowed out of the villages.
Children have to be left at home; they need to be occupied to allay the intense boredom of “life behind the wire” and, above all, they need care through the long hours from dawn to dusk.
At Bindura, the parents’ association contributed about one cent per child per day, to enable Nutresco drinks to be given.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
The heart of a mother is a deep well full of love for those she calls her own. Mothers go out of their way to ensure that their children are well provided for.
Apart from socialising children, a mother’s devotion is one of self-sacrifice, and unselfishness. According to one writer, when one becomes a mother, “they are no longer the centre of their own universe, as they relinquish that position to your children.”
All mothers’ footprints can be traced to their children. The men and women who have made it, have done so through the hard work and immense sacrifices made by their mothers.
This is why resources should be made available to educate and train mothers so that they are effective care givers to their children.
At the peak of the liberation struggle in 1977, there were mothers in protected villages who saw the need to give their children a good start in life. Today’s mothers are faced with economic challenges and the Covid-19 pandemic. What life skills do they need to protect their children from delinquent behaviour, illicit drugs, engaging in sexual activities and the avoidance of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV?
Despite the central role that mothers play in raising children, it is the responsibility of both parents to ensure that their children access opportunities that will make their future bright.
Online Reporter