adminNgoni Dapira
WHEN one hears about scouts, the first port of call is camping, backpacking and people dressed in regalia with badges and neckerchiefs.
This may all be true about scouts, but above all, what most people do not know is that the life of a scout is a virtuous life, guided by the ‘scout pledge’:
“On my honour, I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to God and to my country to help other people and to keep the scout law.”
On March 13, Zimbabwe joined the rest of the continent to celebrate Africa Scout Day in Mbabane, Swaziland.
Coming back home the Zimbabwe scouts have earmarked interest to host the next Africa Scout Day.
Founded by a British soldier, Baden Powell in 1907, scouting has grown to become one of the largest youth movements in the world.
Curious about the mystery and pledges associated with the international movement, The Manica Post interviewed the chairman of the Manicaland Scouts Association and transport mogul of Tenda buses, Mr Earnest Mungwari.
Mr Mungwari said there were a lot of things that people do not know about the life of a scout which made it so intriguing.
Mr Mungwari said scouting was a movement that every parent should encourage their children or them to join.
“Scouting is a movement that aims to support young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, so that they may play constructive roles in society.
“It has a strong focus on outdoor activities and survival skills. However, the most important life skill that scouts are taught is the spirit of ubuntu or human kindness, which is what our modern world needs to inculcate in children,” said Mr Mungwari.
Mr Mungwari said scouts are taught to be good citizens by inculcating them to be patriotic, thoughtful about others and courageous always.
He said there are 10 laws that scouts stand for always.
A scout’s honour is to be trusted, a scout is loyal, a scout’s duty is to be useful and helpful to others, a scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other scout, a scout is courteous, a friend to nature, a scout obeys orders, a scout has courage and is cheerful in all difficulties, a scout is thrift and a scout is clean in thought, word and deed.
At their base camp, the Vumba scout park in Chenziwa, the Manicaland scouts often have various retreats where they have campfires and training courses.
Apart from the outdoor camping life, there is the humanitarian side of scouts.
In March nearly 100 scouts from the Dangamvura district scouts in conjunction with the Environmental Management Authority organised a clean-up campaign at the Dangamvura shopping complex and Boka Shopping Centre in the high-density suburb of Dangamvura.
This month on June 6, Manicaland scouts also assisted in the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe in their procession against road carnages and awareness campaigns.
Mr Mungwari said it is their core business to assist in humanitarian deeds that develop society.
With membership from Mutare, Rusape and Chipinge in Manicaland, Mr Mungwari said scouts are a linchpin to developing morally upright citizens.
Membership starts from children in the cub scouts (8-11 years), young adults in the scouts section (11-17 years) and the adults in the rovers section (18-45 years and above).
Online Reporter