The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
IT is known, since time immemorial, that children learn more from who you are rather than what you teach them.
In fact, yesteryear intellectuals taught that effective teaching involves explaining to our children what they are already observing in our lives.
While the young ones see the good deeds of Lieutenant-General (Retired) Ambassador Anselem Sanyatwe and his wife, Honourable Chido Machona-Sanyatwe on a daily basis – Sunday’s renewal of their wedding vows at the Roman Catholic Church’s Regina Coeli Mission in Nyanga was a practical lecture on good morals.
Hon Machona-Sanyatwe is a Member of the House of Assembly for Nyanga North Constituency.
A former Regina Coeli learner, Ambassador Sanyatwe and his wife chose to move away from the grandeur of five-star hotels and top notch facilities in urban settings – something the couple could afford – to renew their vowsat Regina Coeli Mission.
They opted to brave the searing heat of this rural part of Nyanga and renewed their vows in the company of their countryside folks at a mission school nestled deep in the thickets of this border lying area.
If this is not ample evidence of a strong sense of belonging and also a moving lesson on humility, then nothing is!
In an interview on the sidelines of the wedding, Lieutenant-General (Retired) Ambassador Sanyatwe said: “We are really excited about this. We had our wedding years back in court, but we decided to solemnise our union before God.
“We are happy that we have managed to do this and I hope our youngsters have learnt a lesson or two from this. I attended school here, hence it feels good to be back after so many years to solemnise the union with my wife here. Everyone in the family and colleagues are happy that we have done this.”
Indeed, youngsters from the area had a free lesson on humility and morals unfolding right before their eyes.
Honourable Sanyatwe said: “I really want to express my joy for managing to accomplish this. We had a court weddingbut I have always wanted to have this, hence the boundless joy. I really urge people from different walks of life to emulate this.
“My hope is that our children, our relatives and the community we lead, especially youths, will learn from this. We are not doing this for our own pleasure only, but to also give practical examples on howyoung people should conduct themselves.”
Zimbabwe Chiefs Council’s Manicaland provincial chairman, Chief Makumbe (right) congratulates the couple. − Pictures by Tinai Nyadzayo
No wonder, in a speech made on his behalf by Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga during the Sanyatwes’ wedding, President Mnangagwa congratulated the couple for setting a good example, not only for their family, but the nation at large.
“The President really wanted to be here by himself, but due to pressing commitments he could not and that is why he sent me here to represent him and convey his message.
“He congratulated the Sanyatwe family as well as the Nyanga North family for this achievement. A wedding is a gift from God and we really need to applaud the efforts made to have it. It sets a very good example for the youths, most of whom are now being wasted by drugs.
“We are grateful to the churches that raised these two (the Sanyatwes) and it is ample evidence that when children are raised in church, they get the proper upbringing. They obtain good teachings from there. Our youths should emulate this. May God bless this union,” he said.
The Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Nokuthula Matsikenyere; Transport and Infrastructure Development Deputy Minister, Honourable Mike Madiro; Nyanga North Member of Parliament, Honourable Supa Mandiwanzira and a number of Government, ZANU PF and army officials graced the wedding.
