First Lady ropes in women in caring for the elderly, disabled, orphans . . . cleans homes, feeds the vulnerable groups

 

Tendai Rupapa in MUTASA

TALES of neglect, loneliness, boredom and a quest for love among the elderly, those with disabilities and child-headed families were cured on yesterday when First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa paid them an impromptu visit in Mutasa District, Manicaland.

She cleaned their homes, did laundry for them, prepared and shared a sumptuous meal with them in a show of love aimed at inculcating a sense of responsibility in communities.

Rarely do communities and some families visit the elderly, care about their health nor perform various tasks for them, hence the First Lady’s intervention and educative teaching.

Most elderly people have chronic illnesses and find it difficult to fetch water, firewood as well as perform a host of domestic tasks.

Others, who stay alone, spend most of their time hungry because they can no longer cook.

 

However, yesterday was a different ball game altogether because of the First Lady’s visit.

She gave them blankets, clothes, winter jackets, cooking oil, salt, rice, sugar, bathing and laundry soap as well as toiletry hampers.

The mother of the nation also held an interactive session with the community to tackle drug abuse, domestic violence, promiscuity and foster unity among the people.

As a person who is grounded in the country’s traditional norms and values, the First Lady first sought permission from the beneficiaries of her programme to do their household chores for them.

 

“Pamusoroi Ambuya. I have come so that we spend the day together, cooking and doing laundry for you. Allow me to perform chores for you,” she said.

In response, Gogo Ellah Guta (87) welcomed the offer.

“My daughter, I am so full of joy. Were my legs not sore, I would have danced in appreciation of your love. Truly, coming to visit me here from as far as Harare. It shows great love. When you came to Mutare I was present and you remembered us as the elderly and gave us groceries which we enjoyed with our grandchildren. Do as you please today,” she said.

The mother of the nation, alongside her team which comprised youths, women from churches and community members, prepared rice, sadza, beef, chicken and vegetables for the beneficiaries.

To spice up event, Dr Mnangagwa held an eating competition for those she was working with.

 

Amai became the judge and gave the winners prizes.

Beneficiaries of the First Lady’s visit included Gogo Guta of Chaukura Village, in Mutasa District.

She bore 14 children, lost 12 and is left with two, while her husband also passed on. She stays with her three grandchildren.

“The First Lady has paid me a visit and I am happy beyond measure that she came to visit a rural-based woman as lowly as myself. She has swept my house and cooked for me and I am so happy because since I was born, I had never witnessed such great love. May God continue to bless her because she has a warm heart and is not selective,” Gogo Guta said while shedding tears of joy.

Gogo Jane Zindoga (88) shared similar views.

She had 16 children, who have all since died.

“I live by the grace of the Lord. I no longer have anyone to provide anything for me since all my children have died. This gives great meaning to the visit that I have been paid by the First Lady who has cleaned my house, washed my clothes, blankets and prepared me a mouth-watering meal. I am happy that the Lord has smiled at me today,” she said while ululating with joy.

 

Members of the community expressed joy at what the First Lady had done.

Mrs Moreblessing Nyamundanda was gratified by the lesson behind the mother of the nation’s visit.

“Our mother has taught us to visit the elderly, showing them love and completing various tasks for them and respecting them. Their houses need to be kempt and we never used to do this thinking we only do good to our parents. From today we will continue sowing the seed of love she has sown for the benefit of our community and the nation at large,” she said.

This dovetailed with the views of Tsitsi Nyamunokora from Ward 19.

“I have come here because of our mother’s love. She has great love and we urge everyone to follow suit and visit the elderly while showing them love. We must show them care because some of them will be sick and this is a good learning point,” she said with a broad smile.

In her remarks, addressing the gathering at Watsomba Business Centre, Dr Mnangagwa thanked the people of Manicaland for voting back the President and Zanu PF, allowing her to continue with her life transforming projects.

“Today I have come so that we discuss as a family as we teach one another the proper way of living. Our country has its norms and values and that is the reason why we have traditional chiefs who enforce these norms and values. In our communities are we remembering the vulnerable. We do not want those who follow foreign cultures. The way some women are dressing is not dignified at all. Women must dress properly,” she said.

The First Lady set the cat among the pigeons when she sought to understand how married daughters-in-law were living with their in-laws.

“When I got married I was the youngest daughter-in-law since my husband was the last born. There were some daughters-in-law who despised our mother-in-law, but I did not follow suit and instead showed her love. They sought to know why I was getting along with our mother-in-law and advised me to steer clear of her, saying she was a witch.

 

 

“When I fell ill they warned me that they had told me so and at some point I believed that I indeed had been bewitched. I was taken to some churches and they said I indeed had been bewitched and the disease did not end. I later discovered that I had not been bewitched after visiting the doctor and apologised to my mother-in-law and up to this day we get along so well and I am looking after her,” said one woman at the gathering.

Another respondent shared her nightmare at the hands of her husband’s sisters whose marriages had collapsed.

“When I was married some previously married aunties did not like me and made me work like a donkey. My mother-in-law would strengthen me and up to now I am hated by the sisters-in-law,” she said.

The mother of the nation prodded further and asked how mothers-in-law were faring with their daughters-in-law.

An elderly woman responded: “I have 10 daughters-in-law who treat me well and I love them the same. I wish to thank their parents for their well-behaved daughters,” she said.

Dr Mnangagwa asked girls as to the kind of boys they intended to marry and vice versa.

Mercy Chinani said: “I want a God-fearing man who does not take drugs.”

“Do you have him already?” the First Lady asked and she replied: “No, Amai because the boys have been affected by mutoriro.”

Edith Wadyemba said she wanted a boy who would respect her parents and pay lobola.

She said she wanted a man who would pay 30 cows for her.

Phillip Kaandire said he goes for a beautiful face.

“I want a beautiful girl who is respectful. I will marry from the Mwazha Apostolic Sect which I attend because the girls there dress properly, not those who wear miniskirts,” he said.

 

Shepherd Saunyama said he wanted a prayerful girl and not those who smoke Shisha. I want someone who is sober and does not take drugs.

“Is cheating among married women proper?” the First Lady asked.

In response, Chido Famiya quipped: “True there is too much cheating among married women. We are still single and cannot find suitors because married women are taking them away from us.”

Another respondent ascribed cheating to revenge.

“We are cheating because our husbands are promiscuous. To remove stress, we are also cheating,” she said.

Another respondent accused men of impotence.

“Men have become impotent because of toxic beers they are taking resulting in loss of fun in the bedroom. What then will I do because I did not come for sadza?” she said.

Mr Charles Chidzisa praised the First Lady for her educative programme.

“Our wives are lazy. They wait for everything from us. Vanoda twunonaka and if we fail to provide, they look for boyfriends. Your programme towers above everything else Amai. We thank you for the great teaching,” he said.

As health ambassador, the First Lady spoke against promiscuity, saying such behaviour spawns diseases and enjoined people to be faithful.

“I have my foundation — Angel of Hope Foundation which has partners who give me things, including that I have brought here and I want to thank them,” she said.

She brought blankets, sugar, maize-meal, cooking oil, rice, sugar beans, soya nyama, salt, clothes and winter jackets.

Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services Chaplin Christine Phiri emphasised the need to respect elders and take care of them at all times.

“The Bible says honour your father and mother so that your days on earth may be increased, but there are some who neglect their parents. Our mother is encouraging us to look after our parents so that we get blessings. Aging is because of grace, yet some accuse them of witchcraft. Our mother is saying it is not a crime to be elderly. Some churches are driving wedges between parents and their children saying they are bewitching them. The elderly need a big heart and let us let us love them.

 

“So how are you daughters-in-law, the Shedias living with your in-laws? Are you not beating them up and are you elders treating them as your own children? Some parents gave birth to disabled children and instead of assisting, we laugh at them. Let us love one another. We live with orphans, but do not take care of them, neither do we look after the vulnerable. I was orphaned at a young age and suffered a lot with my siblings because I was the eldest. Our mother is loving and cares for the elderly and disabled. Let us learn from her and do good for others,” she said.

Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza expressed gratitude to the First Lady for her benevolence.

“Amai, we are grateful for all you do for us as a province. We are glad you are always with us. Our children here have been ruined by drugs and we are thankful for your teachings to stay away from drugs. There is change, but we are troubled by these children,” he said.

Chief Mutasa, Mr James Kurauone Ndorikanda Mutasa, expressed joy at the First Lady’s frequent visits to his area of jurisdiction.

“I preside over this area which stretches from Mutare town, Penhalonga, Manica Bridge, Watsomba, London Store, Honde Valley and Nyanga. I am thankful to our First Lady who is the mother of the nation for her visit here which assists us in a great way here. She also came here with a cooking programme which we hosted and I am saying if a woman does not know what to prepare for her husband she will be lame, but our mother is trying to teach our women to prepare tradition food which make us happiness as men.

 

“The lessons she is giving to women and men is that of respect, love compassion and an eye for assisting the needy. At times love is not shown through financial support or material support. Just doing laundry and fetching water is also a sign of love. We have a lot of elderly who lost breadwinners who looked after them like their children. A lot of them have chronic ailments and its necessary that our women as chiefs, headmen and kraal heads visit these people as taught by Amai.

 

“This is not the first time for her to come here, and her message is going well and women understand what she is teaching them. If a man eats well, dresses well he does not cheat and will not look for a small house, but if a man envies other smart men it means the wife has a problem,” he said