First Lady mentors ZCC youths… urges girls to take education seriously, not to rush into marriages

Tendai Rupapa in Gokwe

FIRST Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa spent some days at the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) annual conference at Defe Dopota in Gokwe following an invitation from the church, where she interacted with women and youths as she forged ahead with her mentorship programme for young people, some who are on the verge of entering into marriages.

During her stay in the area, she initiated income-generating projects for thousands of women of various ages through her Angel of Hope Foundation. Her thrust is to fight drug abuse, domestic violence and divorce through working with one’s hands. She also engaged children in Grades Six up to Form Three through her Nhanga/Gota/Ixhiba programme.

Amai Mnangagwa called for protection of the country’s cultural norms and values, as she endeavours to raise morally responsible citizens. She put the icing on the cake by holding a special Nhanga session for girls in Form Four up to tertiary education level, where she implored them to focus on their education and not rush into ill-planned marriages, which mostly ended in divorce.

This is the group that needs hand-holding because of its exposure to life-altering situations like drugs and sexual relationships, whose effects are not easy to reverse. The youth mentorship session comes amid reports that boys and girls at colleges and universities were cohabiting and taking drugs due to peer pressure and sometimes lack of parental guidance.

“Thank you for inviting me here, my children, so that we discuss various issues concerning the girl child. Where a mother meets her daughters, a lot is discussed like what is a girl; how do you dress, walk and everything that makes up a girl.

When I look at you, I see innocent faces, but there is peer pressure outside the church, for example, at schools and universities. The lessons you get today will come in handy in the future, which will work well when you put it together with what you learn from your parents, uncles and aunties,” she said.

Dr Mnangagwa said the young girls should not be ruled by desires of the flesh, but treasure themselves and their bodies so they grow up well.

“Humhandara hudamba kamwe, vanangu. You are the mothers of tomorrow who will be looked up to in terms of uniting people and solving disputes. Today, we learn everything and where you do not understand, feel free to ask.

I also look forward to awarding scholarships to some of you through my Angel of Hope Foundation. But I give the scholarships to well-mannered children, who will not embarrass us when posted outside the country,” added Dr Mnangagwa.

She emphasised the importance of education.
“We did not come here to train you so that you rush into marriages, but we are doing this to shape your future. Think about tomorrow, choose your career path wisely, choose your friends at school wisely.

Why would you want to discontinue your education midway and rush into unproductive things, when some of us, your elders, aspire to reach PhD level?” she said.

Evangelist Nelly Gwatidzo emphasised the need for girls to treasure maidenhood and focus on productive things.

“As a girl, you must be expensive; be hard to get and never be fooled by boys. Mwanasikana, dhura! Ask yourself whether you are a taster or take-home. Do not be like a watermelon on the marketplace, which is cut for people to taste before they buy one to take home. What is a girl and what are your roles?” she asked.

The question elicited a lot of responses, with some attendees saying a girl performs household chores while helping her mother.

“What time should a girl wake up in the morning,” the evangelist further asked.
“Before sunrise and before the mother wakes up at 5am,” the girls responded.

“But is this the time that you are waking up?” she asked and the girls gave mixed responses, with some saying “yes” and others saying “no”.

The girls were asked whether they perform household chores before leaving for school and they answered “yes” while others said “no”, saying they relegated all duties to their house helps.

“When married in the future, will the house help perform all tasks expected of you while you sleep? Every girl must use her hands to do household chores. Some children are difficult to assign tasks at church because they fancy themselves as children of elders. No, you are just children and not the elders, naizvozvo ivai vana vanotumika,” Evangelist Gwatidzo said.

“Our mother is saying whether in church, school or community, maintain good morals and do not have double standards. Some spend time here performing the mugidhi church dance while outside there, they dabble in prostitution and drugs. Value education so that you please your parents. Be responsible and learn to say ‘no’,” she said to applause.

Chaplain Christine Phiri of the Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Service (ZPCS) weighed in with lessons on dating and the need for good morals.

“Do not be treated like second-hand clothes from a bale which people lift and reject for lack of buttons or size. Be someone admirable and valuable. Be responsible, my daughters. I was raised by adopted parents after my mother abandoned me and my siblings at a train station.

We suffered a lot, but I did not let my background define me; here I am today. Do not look at where you come from. Look forward and stand firm on constructive things in life that build your future. When someone proposes love to you and you say ‘I love you too’, what would you have loved?” she asked.

In response, the girls said they assess whether or not the boy is a Christian, educated and whether he can be a good husband.

Chaplain Phiri triggered laughter when she retorted: “You, girls, must say the truth because these days you look at ‘six pack’, dressing and whether or not one is handsome and financially stable. But a six pack is not edible and cannot send children to school.

One can have a six pack and be lazy. You no longer have time for courtship but simply rush into marriage without knowing one another. The marriages do not last because you will see one’s true colours in the home.

You are dating on social media, where you send nude pictures. A boy who asks for nude pictures does not love you.

Let us enter relationships when we are mature, my young sisters. No to peer pressure; live according to your normal way of life and your background. Those in university, you are cohabiting with boys, living as husband and wife. Is that happening?” she asked.

In response, the girls said this was true. They said some were now considered “queen mothers” or pimps, matching first year students with old men for a fee.

“No matter your background, arise. Tell yourself that you are important and special. I left my past through listening, opening up to wise counsel, praying and telling myself I can make it. Accept counselling, my sisters,” she said.

ZCC national youth leader Sandra Matsika praised Dr Mnangagwa for spending time with them.
“We are glad for the meeting we had with you, Amai, the First Lady. We learnt a lot of things from you and other speakers. Mhamha, we have stayed with you here at Defe for days, where you taught everyone, from children right up to our parents. We promise that our characters will change from today going forward.

“We are no longer rushing into marriages and know that education is the first husband. Even when our youngsters were taught in the nhanga/gota/ixhiba, we also joined them in the practical lessons where we learnt to prepare traditional dishes and preparing zvinyenze, something we did not know. We thank you for your love and teachings,” she said.

Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi’s wife, Mrs Charlotte Mutendi, thanked the First Lady for her unconditional love.

“I want to thank you for the love that we were shown by our mother and President Mnangagwa, who allowed her to come here and be with us for days and teach the children after seeing that the country was ruined and children no longer had morals. Aunties who previously counselled children have vanished and are nowhere to be seen.

Our children at the conference were all taught good morals from tender ages up to the youth, and the expected respect. With the First Lady’s teachings, the country will return to its origins. Children are now just walking skimpily dressed as they are aping the lifestyles of foreigners, which are unacceptable here.

Our mother and her team have helped restore sanity in the country and all we await are the results and may God intervene,” she said.

Mrs Mutendi paid tribute to Dr Mnangagwa for empowering women in a big way.
“She has empowered the women in a very big way through the Fushai programme she introduced and also joined.

She also initiated income-generating projects. As the women’s guild, we are the ones who invited the First Lady here so that she helps us restore our culture, because most people were getting lost. As women, our mother taught us the way of respecting our husbands and to ask for everything in love as we worship our God. She was teaching children not to rush into marriages simply because a friend has been married.

She said girls should value education. Let us follow what she taught us so that she will get the results when she comes back,” she said.

Priscilla Mutopo thanked the First Lady for bringing valuable lessons to them.
“Our mother has brought valuable lessons to us, which, if we put into practice, can truly change our lives for the better. We are so happy for the love she has shown us,” she said.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Mildred Chetsapo, who said: “Her teachings are pregnant with benefits for the future. This is a great lesson on the need to pursue education and respect elders at all times. This also helps unlock blessings from above.”

Amai Mnangagwa donated food hampers and blankets to the elderly.