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Tendai Rupapa in CHIKAFA, Mbire

TRADITIONAL leader, Chief Chitsungo of Chikafa has thrown his weight fully behind efforts of First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa to restore the country’s traditional way of life through her Gota/Nhanga/Ixhiba programme which he said set the foundation for a morally upright nation.

Mr Godwin Muzeza, who sits as Chief Chitsungo, said he embraced the teachings brought by the First Lady as children under his jurisdiction and the country at large had become wayward.

Gota/Nhanga/Ixhiba, he said, was aimed at fighting juvenile delinquency, child marriage, prostitution, dis-respectfulness and drug abuse. 

The interventions by the First Lady to revive the respect for tradition were commendable, he said.

The First Lady has been leading from the front in spearheading programmes to build a brighter future for the country.

She has been tapping into the country’s rich cultural heritage which has inbuilt mechanisms to fight challenges which affect adolescents and mould them into responsible citizens.

Yesterday, Amai Mnangagwa held Nhanga/Gota/Ixhiba with the children in Chikafa where Chief Chitsungo described the programme as timely, saying most youths of today were getting lost because of Western influences.

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Deputy Minister Douglas Karoro and traditional chiefs, teach boys traditional values and culture in Chikafa yesterday.

“The programme brought by the First Lady is important because we as chiefs had also lost our culture, but our minds are now back to this traditional way of life,” said Chief Chitsungo. 

“We had abandoned teaching our children in the Gota or Nhanga, something that we grew up accustomed to. 

“Amai’s programme teaches us that wherever we will be as elders, we must encourage children to observe culture. When we were with the boys in the Gota today, children were asking what the Gota was used for. They did not know that and as elders we are to blame because we were not teaching them when they were growing up.

“In this community, children are impregnating each other. I am now encouraging child care workers and members of child protection committees to take action so that we curb this. 

“These teachings brought by the First Lady will make children see they were losing focus. The programme has brought back our traditional way of life and we continue encouraging these youths to do good.” 

While counselling girls with elderly women in the Nhanga, the First Lady spelt out the need for children to quit drugs, alcohol and early sexual relationships and focus on their studies to pave way for a brighter future.

She gave the children a stern warning, saying they would have themselves to blame if they did not heed advice to behave.

“I have come so that we put our heads together with grandmothers teaching you in line with the customs here because these days, children, you are viewing sex as a game,” said the First Lady. 

“When I was in Chidodo, I heard one saying playing around with girls was a form of entertainment. Why are you young girls allowing boys to have their way with you like wild fruits?” she said with a voice filled with concern.

Supporting the mother of the nation’s observation, Gogo Janifer Mufure agreed that children countrywide and in the area had lost morals.

“True, these children are now mischievous and we no longer look up to them to reach university level,” she said. 

“You are embarrassing us as your parents. We are shamed when you are married and we are given torn blankets indicating that you were not a virgin. Is this a result of peer pressure?”

Amai Mnangagwa said it was essential for girls to treasure their bodies until the time was ripe for them to get married in a respectable manner.

First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa addresses girls, boys, area legislator Douglas Karoro and traditional chiefs on the importance of preserving traditional values and culture during the Nhanga/Gota/Ixhiba interactive session in Chikafa yesterday. — Pictures: John Manzongo.

“Your bodies are important my daughters,” she said. “Do not allow boys to play around with you before the time is ripe. If you sleep with boys, they will impregnate you and run away, leaving you wallowing in poverty as the responsible boy will be having many other lovers. 

“Why do you consume intoxicating substances and compete with boys to ruin your lives? Go to school and value your education. We want pilots and doctors from you because you can make it as a girl child.”

The First Lady gave the example of newly-graduated Air Force of Zimbabwe female pilot Air Lieutenant Gamuchirai Mbigi who came out tops during her training, beating male classmates and being rewarded with a Sword of Honour for her excellence.

“So, if you focus on your studies you can make it,” she said. “Learn to say ‘no’ to sexual advances by men. You must watch over your body.”

The First Lady sought to know if there was anyone with complaints or questions among the girls.

One of the girls, a 12-year-old decried that there were boys who waylaid them on their way to fetch water.

“When going to the borehole, there are boys who wait for us on the way and fondle our breasts and backsides and I am afraid of disclosing this at home. I am now afraid of going to fetch water and now my mother thinks I am stubborn, but I am doing this out of fear. How do I tell my mother?” she said with a face filled with childhood innocence.

In response, the First Lady advised her to immediately inform her mother so that action can be taken against the troublesome boys.

“From here, go and sit down with your mother telling her the whole truth my daughter so that she can report to village leaders and if it persists, there would be need to report to the police because it is a crime that is being committed,” she said.

Another teenager aged 14 said she was being shunned by her peers because she had no boyfriend and this was affecting her.

“I am in Form 2 and all my friends at school have boyfriends, but I do not have one and my friends laugh at me saying I have a curse,” she said. “This is affecting me at school as they are now side-lining me saying I am foolish. During break time they are bought snacks and drinks by their boyfriends, but I won’t be having anything. How do I overcome peer pressure?” 

In response, the First Lady advised her not to yield to peer pressure but to focus on her studies.

“Please, say no to peer pressure mwanangu, but just focus on your education and pass with flying colours and shame those who are influencing you to do bad things,” she said. “Those who are not behaving will not have a bright future like you because you would have valued education over courtship.” 

After her meeting with the girls, the mother of the nation later held a joint session for both boys and girls and advised them to hold tight the valuable teachings she was imparting in them.

“What is happening in the country dismays us,” said the First Lady. “We all know sons and daughters that we want in Zimbabwe. The teachings you received must stay in you because it assists you in future.” 

Representing the boys, Tedious Kaumburuke, said they had been taught morals and how to live well in the community without rushing into having sexual relationships.

He said the programme had left him with a wealth of knowledge he did not have before.

“We were taught that Gota, as a hut where boys sleep, is where they were imparted with wisdom,” he said. “This programme makes us understand what was done in the past and know how to preserve our culture.” 

Tedious said most children of today were taking drugs as a result of lack of counselling.

The First Lady said Nhanga and Gota have always been there since time immemorial, but people were losing morals as grandmothers and other elders were expending time on the phones without caring to train the youngsters.

The elders who taught the children were given food hampers and toiletries, while the children were given certificates as ambassadors, stationery and school bags.