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Tendai Rupapa Senior Reporter

CHILDREN must not yield to peer pressure, but shun drugs and all forms of immorality and concentrate on their studies to secure a bright future, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa has said.

She made the remarks at an oversubscribed educative Gota/Nhanga/Ixhiba session targeting children from churches across Mashonaland Central Province.

Dr Mnangagwa said it was disheartening to note that girls in Mashonaland Central topped the list in terms of teen pregnancies and child marriages and said they could do better by concentrating on their education to be able to fend for themselves in future.

The First Lady has a passion for the total empowerment of all citizens and has been leading a drive against drug and substance abuse countrywide.

While girls were in the Nhanga with the First Lady, Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Monica Mavhunga and church leaders, boys were in the Gota where traditional chiefs, church elders and church leaders took turns to impart wisdom in them.

Both boys and girls conducted practical lessons that included cooking traditional dishes by girls while boys perfomed household chores expected of them.

“Grandmothers I have come so that we assist each other in counselling our children because as parents we are troubled and that is why I am venturing in churches to speak to children who fear God. We have come to hear whether or not they are following the church doctrine and following what the bible says. 

Our daughters are forgetting that they are important and their bodies are the temple of the Lord. My aim is to mould our daughters and come up with respectable mothers of the future. We want them to build a strong foundation attaching importance to education. We want their future to be bright and not drop out of school midway to play with men and end up having children of different totems. Vana mai, as Christians, what it is that we are teaching the children and you children what is your future like?”

Mrs Miriam Mavakise from Salvation Army praised the First Lady for coming up with a programme to educate the children.

“We are grateful for your programme which is assisting in teaching our children good morals. Our children, even in churches, have become naughty from the dressing and conduct. We hear that children learn from their mothers, but not so these days because the children have become naughty doing all sorts of unthinkable things. But as churches Amai we are trying hard to teach the girls the correct path to follow,” she said.

Mrs Josephine Chinunga of the Islamic faith weighed in saying: “At church we teach children as they grow up to puberty and until they get married. As Muslims, while growing up we would spend three weeks at church being trained in things that would build our future. Islam stipulates that no girl may bed a boy before marriage, it is not allowed. Doing so destroys your life and embarrasses your mother. 

“Boys of nowadays are liars who promise marriage just to sleep with you. The moment he succeeds you wont see him and your virginity will be gone. Virginity is a once in a lifetime condition, preserve it,” she said.

The First Lady implored on the children to attach value to what they had been taught.

“My daughters you heard vana mai nana mbuya teaching you. What have you to say and what would you want to be when you grow up,” she said.

In response, the children said they wanted to be doctors, nurses and lawyers among other professions.

“My daughters all these things come through perseverance and pursuing education. Your parents look forward to being looked after in future but if you drop out of school and rush to get married, how will you achieve this. Such mischief causes parents hypertension and trigger violence as fathers will be accusing your mothers of not training the children properly. Yet the child was just mischievous. Chase after your education first my daughters,” she said. Minister Mavhunga highlighted to the First Lady that her province was grappling with a surge in child marriages and teen pregnances.

“Child marriages are serious in this province. Children are rushing into marriages which however, do not last because of their tender ages. The children are also facing complications in delivering babies because they would not have matured for this. Thank you Amai for coming to talk to your children as you counsel and advise them,” she said.

Amai Mnangagwa said she was worried by the steep cases in child marriages in the province.

“My children we are saying no to child child marriages, no to teen pregnancies because according to statistics, Mashonaland Central tops on child marrriages. I urge you to concentrate on your schoolwork. Your time of having families will come, why rush. If you are raped, please report, speak out. Is the way you are dressing these days dignified,” she said.

A 17-year-old girl ascribed the challenges the province was facing to peer pressure.

“Peer pressure is causing these challenges. Our friends at school are dating gold panners or married men saying they are awash with cash. We will be friends but our lifestyles will be different. They exert pressure on you to follow suit and to match their lifestyle you are forced to do the same,” she said.

Dr Mnangagwa however advised children not to yield to peer pressure and choose their friends wisely.

“Say no to peer pressure, choose your friends wisely and understand why you are in school. Know your background and make your parents proud. Do not take drugs and refuse to be fooled,” she said.

Chaplin Christine Phiri of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service warned the girls against blessers and urged them to remain rooted in Christ.

“My younger sisters leave blessers, because we as Christians can only be blessed by God. These men are tourists, the moment they visit a place, they do not return. Guard your virginity jealously. We are happy when our mother comes along to spend time with us, teaching us good morals, isn’t this a blessing? Therefore, let us treasure the teachings from our mother,” she said.

The First Lady hammered hard on the need for learners to stay away from drugs.

While acknowledging guidance and counselling services offered by education institutions, Dr Mnangagwa highlighted the importance of conducting periodic Nhanga and Gota sessions in schools with the help of elderly community members.

 She also indicated that her office is in the process of engaging relevant ministries for the programme to be implemented.

“My children I think it is now important for us to have these sessions in schools because drugs are a problem even in schools and you have confirmed that there some who are taking them in schools. I am in the process of engaging the relevant ministries. We shall visit schools as you also invite us to witness what you would have taught your friends since I have made you ambassadors to train others,” she said.

The children received the news with overwhelming enthusiasm citing seperate sessions for boys and girls in schools will allow both parties to express themselves freely.

A learner, Princess Muronzi said she would really appreciate if Gota/Nhanga/Ixhiba sessions were introduced in schools. 

“Mhamha may you kindly ensure time is set aside for these sessions in schools because mischief starts there since we have people from different backgrounds. Some are involved in drugs at school. Your programme is educative and we need it in our schools where we are taught separately with boys,” she said.

Her colleague, Mitchel Membere, spoke along the same lines.

“We are in support of Nhanga/Gota in schools where we are taught by the elderly whom we do not know, that way we will freely open up unlike during our guidance and counselling lessons with teachers where we won’t open up because we feel ashamed to tell our teachers infront of boys. 

“What if it spreads that so and so was raped? Even when I am abused at home, I will be afraid to open up. Plus guidance and counselling in schools is done in the presence of boys but Nhanga/Gota sessions we are taught life lessons separately,” she said.

The girls were also taught many delicate issues, including menstrual hygiene.

Sekuru Savious Karimatsanga who was among elders who took the boys through the Gota lessons thanked the First Lady for her intervention through the Gota sessions which promote good moral values.

“The programme brought by the First Lady is essential because we are seeing the children’s great zeal to learn. Some of the challenges we are facing in communities today are largely because we were reneging on our roles to train them and give them guidance. We taught the boys how to slaughter goats and perform household chores like cutting firewood and watering the garden.

“We also shared with them how they should go about it when they come of age and are ready to get married,” he said.

Otwell Moyo described the lessons he received in the Gota as a stitch in time which would help restore morals among youths.

“We were taught to respect elders and make hoe handles and cooking sticks. We were advised to stay away from drugs and I shall certainly share the lessons I have learnt with my peers at school and in the community. Were it not for the First Lady’s love, I do not think that I would have received such teachings,” he said proudly.

Addressing the whole gathering, the First Lady expressed her delight in working with churches in the search for solutions to the challenges affecting children.

“I am happy to be here in Mashonaland Central Province where I have come focusing on churches and families in the church. I have covered many places but realised there was a group I had left behind. I started meeting churches in Masvingo last week and this province is the second. God said when two people meet, I will be there. As we gather let us assess how we are living and ask God for guidance. I can’t travel this journey alone of fighting drug abuse, we need to put our heads together. 

“Are you mothers in churches training children as good manners are commonplace in churches. Are you children looking after yourselves well? I am glad the children I met in the Nhanga showed me they had good manners. 

“I have made them my ambassadors therefore watch over them to ensure they do not get lost and remain in Christ. We want well mannered children with good names. Let us follow God’s path and worship truly in faith and spirit. Our children will be the leaders of tomorrow and let us never tire in showing them the correct path.

 “Drunkenness and drug abuse has taken root in our children, some are beating their parents and we do not want that in our country, in our communities and in families. 

“Let us be united and help our children together. All we want is raising our children with good morals. We also want peace in our country, even after elections we say no to hatred, we want peace and love to prevail. God will hear our prayers,” she said to applause.

The children who participated in the nhanga/gota and the elderly received food hampers and stationery from the First Lady.

In addition girls were given reusable sanitary pads.