First Lady shows unparalleled love in Kanyemba
FIRST LADY Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa on Thursday continued with her efforts to steer the previously marginalised people of Kanyemba towards self-sufficiency by encouraging them to do income-generating projects and be able to send their children to school.
Since assuming office, the First Lady has been working closely with the community to improve its access to shelter, health and food.
Kanyemba, a remote border town in Mbire District on the Zambezi River where Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique meet, is in natural region 5 which is associated with extremely hot weather and poor rainfall.
The mother of the nation spent a week in Mbire District and visited Chidodo, Chikafa and Kanyemba communities which have many hard to reach areas in an unparalleled show of love that has never been exhibited by a First Lady since the country’s independence in 1980.
In all the areas she visited, chiefs from neighbouring countries — Zambia and Mozambique — and their subjects came along and their presence showed the respect Amai Mnangagwa has earned across the border through her hard work, selflessness and unconditional love.
In an interactive session with the Kanyemba community, the First Lady
— who has a passion for the empowerment of the less-privileged — inclined an ear to the challenges they face and proffered tangible solutions.
The discussion touched on a number of issues, including family set-up, health, morality, empowerment, Covid-19 and vaccination.
“I have come so that we meet again and discuss regarding life, our way of living and the way our children are behaving,” said the First Lady. “I will never abandon you Kanyemba as we have come together from afar. We shall continue walking together until I am satisfied that you are at par with other areas that I visit.”
On Covid-19, she asked her audience what it understood about the pandemic.
In response, Gumburai Jonasi said: “We heard that it is a deadly disease no one should play with.”
The First Lady then said: “True, the disease is killing people not only in Zimbabwe, but worldwide. How do we protect ourselves?”
The people highlighted the World Health Organisation protocols of masking up, sanitising and maintaining social distance.
The First Lady urged members of the community to always put on their masks and asked what diseases were there before the advent of Covid-19.
The community mentioned cancer, HIV, diabetes and hypertension and she implored them to keep taking their medication.
“Never stop taking your medication and keep heeding instructions from doctors,” she said.
She asked if the people were vaccinated and almost everyone raised their hands and she praised them.
“Let us embrace vaccination,” said the First Lady. “It lowers the potency of the pandemic. It is not Zimbabwe alone which is getting vaccinated, but the whole world.”
As the environment patron, the First Lady decried the wanton cutting down of trees and widespread veld fires.
“On my way here I saw depleted forests, you are cutting down trees, burning forests and what about other creatures, our wildlife, our livestock are being burnt there,” she said. “Even those sleeping in homes are being caught in the cross fire. The seasons are changing, there is climate change and lets stop burning the forests because we need windbreak.
“When I came in the past, we discussed many issues, with women accusing their husbands of spending time at bars while women worked for the family. I implored both men and women to work together in sustaining the family with the mother being a helper. Did that change or it’s still the same?
“On children, when I came I heard cases of marrying off young girls and reports of drug and alcohol abuse among children. Children are being paralysed by drugs. Girls are rushing into sexual relationships and falling pregnant. At our homes, mothers and daughters are now behaving the same, with the child becoming stubborn, did that change?
“Family set-up, let us talk about the qualities of a good husband and a good wife.” In response, Mrs Catherine Kaputi said: “A good wife helps her husband in looking after the family and also uses her hands through gardening.” Mrs Kapeta Chiamo had her own views.
“A mother does not select her children and does not accept gifts brought by her daughter without knowing the source. She is also not promiscuous and stick to her husband,” she said.
In response the First Lady said: “I have seen that women are speaking while also teaching others to be content about their own homes, selves and the husbands you were given by God.”
Sekuru Misheck Mukaneta said men in his area were sick and tired of being harassed by their wives.
“As men we are troubled by our
wives who nag us and are harassing us. We are scolded and Amai you did well by visiting us, please talk to them and teach them good manners,” he said.
In response, the First Lady sought from women to know whether or not the claim was true.
Mrs Idanai Tiamo blamed such behaviour on women who were not content with their husbands.
“This is being done by women who are not content with their husbands. There are some grandmothers who cheat,” she said. Astounded, the First Lady said: “Now if grandmothers behave this way, who will teach the youngsters?”
Mrs Tiipe Nyakutepa said: “True, we are scolding each other with men in the house because they are lazy. As women we are working alone to feed the families. I wake up early to order and sell wares, but when I come back he threatens to bash me asking where I was yet I will be working. If I bring back some money he takes it all to the bar. They do not want to work.”
The First Lady urged couples to work together in sustaining families and be able to send their children to school.